Final answer:
The true statement regarding photosynthesis and cellular respiration is C: Cellular respiration occurs in both animals and plants, while photosynthesis does not occur in animals. Plants perform both processes, utilizing the products of photosynthesis as reactants for cellular respiration and vice versa.
Step-by-step explanation:
C. Cellular respiration occurs in animals and plants, while photosynthesis does not occur in animals. Photosynthesis and cellular respiration are fundamentally different processes that occur within plant cells. Photosynthesis takes place in the chloroplasts, utilizing carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight to produce glucose and oxygen. Cellular respiration, on the other hand, occurs in the mitochondria of both plant and animal cells, using glucose and oxygen to produce ATP, carbon dioxide, and water. While animals solely perform cellular respiration, plants carry out both photosynthesis and cellular respiration.
These two processes are interconnected; products of photosynthesis serve as reactants for cellular respiration and vice versa. This cycle allows plants to use the energy from sunlight to create energy-rich carbohydrates and then use those carbohydrates to generate ATP, which is the energy currency of cells. It's a misconception that plants only photosynthesize during the day and respire at night; in reality, cellular respiration in plants happens continuously, ensuring that vital cellular functions are maintained.
The metabolism of carbohydrates during both processes emphasizes the interdependence of photosynthesis and cellular respiration. They form an energy link that is crucial for the survival of plants and, by extension, for all life on Earth, due to the oxygen and food they provide.