Question

Suppose that a cow is a plant and digestive plants cell blu suppose that a cow is a plant and digests the plants cellulose molecules to glucose molecules. These glucose molecules are used by the cow cells for cellular respiration or for biosynthesis. Explain how a carbon atom in a CO2 molecules in the air can become part of an organic molecule in a cow.

Answer 1

A CO2 molecule is reduced into a carbohydrate molecule in a plant. This occurs during photosynthesis. Water molecule into 2H+ and O- in light stage. The H+ is used to reduce CO2 into glucose, in dark phase of photosynthesis, that is stored by the plant. When the plant is consumed by the cow, the glucose molecules are absorbed in its gut and take-up by cell for cellular respiration. An intermediate product for cellular respiration (Krebs cycle)such as Acetyl-CoA can be used to synthesize fatty acids. Fatty acids can be used structurally such as in the development of cell membrane of the cow.