Answer to Question #22517 in Biochemistry for cathleen anderson

Question

From the second e-Activity, analyze the similarities and differences between chemosynthesis and photosynthesis. Determine what you believe is the most significant step in regard to harnessing energy within each process, and explain why.

Answer 1

Both processes need carbon dioxide to produce the carbohydrates. Both processes also need an energy source to the fuel reactions. And, most important, both photosynthesis and chemosynthesis result in food for the organisms, which in turn becomes food for other organisms, supporting the circle of life. Th most important evolutionary step was finding a way that harness the energy of sun and is inexhaustible natural resource in terms of photosynthesis.
The significant thing about chemosynthesis is chemosynthetic process allowed microorganisms to be present in the deep sea where light energy from the sun is absent and support large communities and assemblages of higher organisms.