Deforestation A Worldwide Epidemic - 1049 Words

Deforestation: A Worldwide Epidemic Raekwon J. Filmore Department of Biology Spring 2016 Photosynthesis is a key contributor to the survival of humans. Earth is an open system requiring the input energy to drive life processes. Photosynthesis uses light energy to produce chemical energy which is glucose. Photosynthesis deals with plant growth as well as being a source of energy and food. The four things needed for plant growth: energy in the form of solar radiation, carbon in the form of carbon dioxide, mineral nutrients and water (Kirk, 1994). In order for plants to be able to conduct photosynthesis plants need chloroplasts. Chloroplasts, green colored cells depending on the plant, are a plastid that contains chlorophyll and†¦show more content†¦Glycolysis breaks down the glucose that is going to be used into pyruvate. Pyruvate produced during glycolysis is transported from the cytosol to the mitochondria. The second stage of respiration is pyruvate processing which is catalyzed by the enzyme pyruvate dehydrogenase in the mitochondrial matrix. In pyruvate proce ssing, pyruvate is oxidized to form Acetyl CoA. The Acetyl CoA produced from the pyruvate processing enters the Kreps Cycle. In the Kreps Cycle, the Acetyl CoA is oxidized to form CO2. The final stage of respiration is The Electron Transport Chain. The byproducts that were produced from stages one three are oxidized and thus respiration occurs. The importance of photosynthesis and respiration go hand in hand. Photosynthesis is indeed critical for the survival of humans and plants, but the oxygen needed to start photosynthesis is depleting. This paper will elaborate on a major cause of the depletion of oxygen in the atmosphere and affecting people worldwide. Homo sapiens has a huge impact on photosynthesis and plants. Humans are continuing to develop and it is making it more difficult to compensate for everyone’s needs. The population is exponentially increasing and they need shelter. The only way to make room for more people is to cut down forests and use the wood and lumber to create shelter. The cutting down of trees is known as deforestation. Trees are not only cut down for shelter, but for also businesses. Areas that were once