27.3k views
24 votes
Which evolved first, photosynthesis or cellular respiration?

User Akrabi
by
4.2k points

1 Answer

1 vote

Answer:

Because photosynthesis is a source of oxygen, it seems intuitive that photosynthesis evolved first: once enough O2 was in the air, then respiration would be able to arise in the newly oxygen-enriched atmosphere. However, some biologists have argued since the 1970's that respiration in fact evolved first.

User Niedved
by
2.9k points