PHOTOSYNTHESIS & THE ENVIRONMENT

Chlorophyll molecules sit on the surface of each thylakoid, and capture light energy from the sun. After these energy rich molecules are created by light dependent reactions, they move to the stroma were carbon is fixed and sugars are synthesized. Stacks of thylakoid are connected by stroma lamellaes which acts as a skeleton for the organelle. If all the thylakoid stacks were overlapping, it would not be an efficient system of capturing the most amount of light energy and utilizing it (Andrew Rader Studios, 2017).

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Impacts of Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis is the main factor that controls our environment. Without photosynthesis, there would be little or no organic matter on this planet, most organisms would cease to exist, and in some time there would be almost no oxygen in Earth’s atmosphere. The only organisms capable of living in these environments would be chemosynthetic bacteria, which can use the chemical energy of certain inorganic compounds (Lambers & Bassham, 2017).

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It is energy produced millions of years ago, through the process of photosynthesis which is stored in the form of fossil fuels, and now powers our industrial society. Also, as photosynthesis uses up carbon dioxide in its process, it is one of the main ways humans can stop or even reverse the devastating effects of climate change (Lambers & Bassham, 2017). Not to mention, that complete ecosystems depend on producers to bring energy into the food web using photosynthesis. Most of the world obtains 80% of their food directly from plants too (Pass My Exams, 2016).

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Conclusion

In conclusion, photosynthesis is quite simply the use of light to create chemical energy for plants. Chloroplasts are vital in the process of photosynthesis because they contain an organelle called chlorophyll which absorbs all light coming from the sun, and also because it is inside the organelle that photosynthesis takes place. Chloroplasts are only found in plant cells and are like mitochondria both structure and function wise. Photosynthesis is very important as without it life on earth would not be possible, except for a few cases like certain types of bacteria. Photosynthesis allows energy to enter the ecosystem, as it uses sun light, water and carbon dioxide and changes it into glucose and oxygen. It acts as a counter to respiration by producing oxygen and balancing atmospheric gasses. With new problems emerging and becoming more serious simple solutions, such as increasing processes like photosynthesis can solve issues like global warming.

Photosynthesis was also important millions of years ago, when dead organic matter was pressurized into becoming fossil fuels, which now are so abundantly used everywhere. Without the process of photosynthesis life would be non-existent and hence it is safe to say that the process does in fact control the environment of this Earth.