BIO.A.3 Bioenergetics
Topic Summary for Energy flow in Biological Systems (Part 2)
Energy is the ability to do work. Organisms need energy to stay alive.
Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is a chemical compound cells use to store and release energy.
• An ATP molecule consists of adenine, the sugar ribose, and three phosphate groups.
• Cells store energy by adding a phosphate group to adenosine diphosphate (ADP) molecules.
• Cells release energy from ATP molecules by subtracting a phosphate group.
Energy provided by ATP is used in active transport, to contract muscles, to make proteins, and in many other ways.
Cells contain only a small amount of ATP at any one time. They regenerate it from ADP as they need it, using energy stored in food.
The energy to make ATP from ADP comes from food. Organisms get food in one of two ways.
Heterotrophs get food by consuming (eating) other organisms.
Autotrophs use the energy in sunlight to make their own food.
Photosynthesis is the process that uses light energy to produce food molecules.
Topic Summary for Energy flow in Biological Systems (Part 2)
Energy is the ability to do work. Organisms need energy to stay alive.
Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is a chemical compound cells use to store and release energy.
• An ATP molecule consists of adenine, the sugar ribose, and three phosphate groups.
• Cells store energy by adding a phosphate group to adenosine diphosphate (ADP) molecules.
• Cells release energy from ATP molecules by subtracting a phosphate group.
Energy provided by ATP is used in active transport, to contract muscles, to make proteins, and in many other ways.
Cells contain only a small amount of ATP at any one time. They regenerate it from ADP as they need it, using energy stored in food.
The energy to make ATP from ADP comes from food. Organisms get food in one of two ways.
Heterotrophs get food by consuming (eating) other organisms.
Autotrophs use the energy in sunlight to make their own food.
Photosynthesis is the process that uses light energy to produce food molecules.