Final answer:
Photosynthesis and cellular respiration share common features including the use of carbon dioxide and water to form carbohydrates, and the recycling of oxygen in Earth's atmosphere. Both are essential in a cyclical process that maintains atmospheric gas balance and enables the storage and release of energy in living organisms.
Step-by-step explanation:
Photosynthesis and cellular respiration are complementary biological processes that play a vital role in the energy balance of most living organisms. Some common features and processes associated with both include the use of carbon dioxide and water to produce carbohydrates, the metabolization of carbohydrates to form carbon dioxide and water, and the role of these reactions in the recycling of oxygen in Earth's atmosphere.
Both processes involve complex biochemical pathways: during photosynthesis, plants, algae, and certain bacteria convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen using sunlight energy. This glucose can then be used in the process of cellular respiration to produce ATP, the energy currency of the cell, while releasing carbon dioxide and water as byproducts. The oxygen produced during photosynthesis is necessary for cellular respiration, while the carbon dioxide produced during cellular respiration is used in photosynthesis.
Therefore, photosynthesis and cellular respiration can be seen as parts of a cyclical process that keeps the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide stable in the atmosphere, which is essential for the survival of aerobic life forms.