discuss reasons for studying photosynthesis, including:
- its production of food resources and the need to increase crop yields
- understanding of photosynthesis may lead to better methods of harvesting solar energy
- photosynthesis can provide raw materials for a range of human needs
- the importance of reducing carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere
- the importance of generating oxygen
Harvesting solar energy is one answer to the world’s energy supply problem. By studying photosynthesis it may become possible to duplicate the reactions and improve on solar harvesting techniques.
Plants store the glucose made in photosynthesis as starch and cellulose in cells walls. Cellulose can be converted to glucose by bacterial action and then to ethanol by fermentation. Ethanol can be used instead of petrol and converted to ethane to provide the raw materials for the production of plastics, fabrics, solvents and refrigerants.
Burning fossil fuels produces carbon dioxide that accumulates in the atmosphere and contributes to global warming by retaining heat that would otherwise be radiated out to the stratosphere. Plants convert carbon dioxide to oxygen, required for respiration by all plants and animals. Large forests and the photosynthetic plankton in the oceans maintain levels of oxygen by photosynthesis for use in respiration.
Oxygen is needed by all living things for respiration.