Cell Respiration Vs. Photosynthesis

Cell respiration and photosynthesis are both metabolic pathways involved with breaking down and synthesizing the smallest units of energy used at the cellular level.

Plants and Animals

All plants and animals utilize cellular respiration, whereas only plants carry out photosynthesis.

Location

Cellular respiration takes place in the mitochondria. Photosynthesis is carried out within chloroplast organelles.

Photosynthesis

During photosynthesis, carbon dioxide and water combine, using sunlight as a catalyst, to produce sugar and release oxygen.

Cell Respiration

During cellular respiration, the sugar that was created by photosynthesis is broken back down into carbon dioxide and water, creating as a byproduct packets of energy called ATP. This energy is the driving force of cellular activity, and thus, life itself.

The Big Picture

Photosynthesis creates and stores sugars. Sugars are then consumed by other organisms. Those organisms break down the sugar through cellular respiration for use as energy.

References

• Iupui Department of Biology