Biology 101 Critical Thinking Questions: � Photosynthesis, Cell Division, Genetics, and Inheritance
Critical thinking questions in Biology 101 covering topics like photosynthesis, cell division, genetics, and inheritance patterns.
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Biology 101 Critical Thinking Questions: – Photosynthesis, Cell Division,
Genetics, and Inheritance
CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS Chap. 5
12. What is the overall purpose of the light reactions in photosynthesis?
To convert solar energy into chemical energy that cells can use to do work.
13. Why are carnivores, such as lions, dependent on photosynthesis to survive?
Because lions eat animals that eat plants.
14. Describe the pathway of energy in lightdependent reactions.
Three events are involved in the light-dependent reactions:
1. Pigments absorb light energy and give up electrons.
2. Two water molecules are split to produce one molecule of oxygen. The nucleotides ATP and
NADPH form.
3. Electrons are replaced in the pigment molecules that first gave them up.
The pigments "harvest" sunlight. Absorbed photons of energy boost electrons to a higher level. The
electrons quickly return to the lower level and release energy. The released energy is trapped by
chlorophylls. The trapped energy is then used to transfer a chlorophyll electron to an acceptor
molecule.
Electrons expelled from a chlorophyll molecule go through one or two electron transport systems,
resulting in formation of ATP and NADPH.
15. Which part of the Calvin cycle would be affected if a cell could not produce the enzyme RuBisCO?
None of the cycle could take place, because RuBisCO is essential in fixing carbon dioxide. Specifically,
RuBisCO catalyzes the reaction between carbon dioxide and RuBP at the start of the cycle.
16. Explain the reciprocal nature of the net chemical reactions for photosynthesis and respiration.
Photosynthesis takes the energy of sunlight and combines water and carbon dioxide to produce sugar
and oxygen as a waste product. The reactions of respiration take sugar and consume oxygen to break
it down into carbon dioxide and water, releasing energy. Thus, the reactants of photosynthesis are the
products of respiration, and vice versa.
CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS Chap. 6
12. Compare and contrast a human somatic cell to a human gamete.
Genetics, and Inheritance
CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS Chap. 5
12. What is the overall purpose of the light reactions in photosynthesis?
To convert solar energy into chemical energy that cells can use to do work.
13. Why are carnivores, such as lions, dependent on photosynthesis to survive?
Because lions eat animals that eat plants.
14. Describe the pathway of energy in lightdependent reactions.
Three events are involved in the light-dependent reactions:
1. Pigments absorb light energy and give up electrons.
2. Two water molecules are split to produce one molecule of oxygen. The nucleotides ATP and
NADPH form.
3. Electrons are replaced in the pigment molecules that first gave them up.
The pigments "harvest" sunlight. Absorbed photons of energy boost electrons to a higher level. The
electrons quickly return to the lower level and release energy. The released energy is trapped by
chlorophylls. The trapped energy is then used to transfer a chlorophyll electron to an acceptor
molecule.
Electrons expelled from a chlorophyll molecule go through one or two electron transport systems,
resulting in formation of ATP and NADPH.
15. Which part of the Calvin cycle would be affected if a cell could not produce the enzyme RuBisCO?
None of the cycle could take place, because RuBisCO is essential in fixing carbon dioxide. Specifically,
RuBisCO catalyzes the reaction between carbon dioxide and RuBP at the start of the cycle.
16. Explain the reciprocal nature of the net chemical reactions for photosynthesis and respiration.
Photosynthesis takes the energy of sunlight and combines water and carbon dioxide to produce sugar
and oxygen as a waste product. The reactions of respiration take sugar and consume oxygen to break
it down into carbon dioxide and water, releasing energy. Thus, the reactants of photosynthesis are the
products of respiration, and vice versa.
CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS Chap. 6
12. Compare and contrast a human somatic cell to a human gamete.
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