Respiration vs. Photosynthesis — What's the Difference?

Involves the breakdown of glucose to produce ATP.

Produces oxygen as a byproduct.

The process by which cells obtain energy by consuming oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide.

Divided into light-dependent reactions and the Calvin cycle.

Occurs in mitochondria of cells.

The process by which green plants use sunlight to synthesize foods from carbon dioxide and water.

Consists of multiple stages, including glycolysis and the Krebs cycle.

Key to energy and food production in ecosystems.

Necessary for sustaining life in animals and plants.

Involves capturing energy from sunlight.

The action or process of inhaling and exhaling; breathing. Also called ventilation.

Photosynthesis is a process used by plants and other organisms to convert light energy into chemical energy that, through cellular respiration, can later be released to fuel the organism's metabolic activities. This chemical energy is stored in carbohydrate molecules, such as sugars and starches, which are synthesized from carbon dioxide and water – hence the name photosynthesis, from the Greek phōs (φῶς), "light", and sunthesis (σύνθεσις), "putting together".

An act of inhaling and exhaling; a breath.

The process in green plants and certain other organisms by which carbohydrates are synthesized from carbon dioxide and a source of hydrogen (usually water), using light as an energy source. Most forms of photosynthesis release oxygen as a byproduct.

The action or process by which an organism without lungs, such as a fish or plant, exchanges gases with its environment.

(biology) Any process by which plants and other photoautotrophs convert light energy into chemical energy,

The oxidative process occurring within living cells by which the chemical energy of organic molecules is converted in a series of metabolic steps into usable energy in the form of ATP, involving the consumption of oxygen and the production of carbon dioxide and water as byproducts.

Principally, oxygenic photosynthesis, any process by which plants and algae convert water and carbon dioxide into carbohydrates and waste oxygen using solar energy.

Any of various analogous metabolic processes by which certain organisms, such as anaerobic bacteria and some fungi, obtain energy from organic molecules without consuming oxygen.

Also, non-oxygenic photosynthesis, used by purple and green bacteria, heliobacteria, and acidobacteria.

The process of inhaling and exhaling; breathing, breath.

The process of constructive metabolism by which carbohydrates are formed from water vapor and the carbon dioxide of the air in the chlorophyll-containing tissues of plants exposed to the action of light. It was formerly called assimilation, but this is now commonly used as in animal physiology. The details of the process are not yet clearly known. Baeyer's theory is that the carbon dioxide is reduced to carbon monoxide, which, uniting with the hydrogen of the water in the cell, produces formaldehyde, the latter forming various sugars through polymerization. Vines suggests that the carbohydrates are secretion products of the chloroplasts, derived from decomposition of previously formed proteids. The food substances are usually quickly translocated, those that accumulate being changed to starch, which appears in the cells almost simultaneously with the sugars. The chloroplasts perform photosynthesis only in light and within a certain range of temperature, varying according to climate. This is the only way in which a plant is able to organize carbohydrates. All plants without a chlorophyll apparatus, as the fungi, must be parasitic or saprophytic.

An act of breathing; a breath.

Synthesis of compounds with the aid of radiant energy (especially in plants)

Any similar process in an organism that lacks lungs that exchanges gases with its environment.

The process by which cells obtain chemical energy by the consumption of oxygen and the release of carbon dioxide.

The act of respiring or breathing again, or catching one's breath.

Relief from toil or suffering: rest.

Interval; intermission.

The act of resping or breathing; the act of taking in and giving out air; the aggregate of those processes bu which oxygen is introduced into the system, and carbon dioxide, or carbonic acid, removed.

A single complete act of breathing in and out;

The bodily process of inhalation and exhalation; the process of taking in oxygen from inhaled air and releasing carbon dioxide by exhalation

Light is crucial for photosynthesis as it provides the energy needed to convert CO2 and water into glucose and oxygen.

The byproduct of respiration is mainly carbon dioxide, while photosynthesis primarily produces oxygen.

The main difference is that respiration breaks down glucose to release energy, while photosynthesis uses light energy to create glucose.

They are vital for the carbon and oxygen cycles, with photosynthesis providing oxygen and organic compounds and respiration using these compounds and releasing CO2.

Respiration occurs in the mitochondria, while photosynthesis takes place in the chloroplasts.

Chlorophyll captures solar energy and converts it into chemical energy during photosynthesis.

In the Calvin cycle, ATP and NADPH from light-dependent reactions are used to convert CO2 into glucose.

Photosynthesis requires light for the light-dependent reactions, so it cannot occur without light.

The electron transport chain produces the majority of ATP during cellular respiration by transferring electrons and pumping protons to generate a gradient used to synthesize ATP.

Plants have adaptations like leaf orientation, stomatal control, and specialized photosynthetic pathways to optimize energy capture and use.

Yes, plants perform both processes; they photosynthesize to create glucose and respire to break it down for energy.

ATP is the primary energy currency of the cell, used to power various biological processes.

Respiration is sometimes likened to a slow, controlled form of combustion as it involves the breakdown of organic molecules with the release of energy, CO2, and water.

Photosynthesis produces the glucose and oxygen necessary for respiration, and respiration produces the CO2 and ATP needed for photosynthesis.

Higher temperatures can increase the rate of photosynthesis up to a point, while increased CO2 levels typically enhance photosynthesis.