This program introduces energetics with a discussion of the laws of energy; structure and characteristics of ATP; exergonic and endergonic reactions; the flow of energy through nature including fusion, the electromagnetic spectrum, photosynthesis and the cellular oxidation of glucose, producers and consumers, food chains and food webs; ecological roles of organisms in the food web; energy pyramids; and contrasting matter recycling with energy flow. Portions of energy metabolism are talked about to lay a foundation for the discussion of photosynthesis and the cellular oxidation of glucose in later programs in this series. The program also takes a detailed look at the light and dark reactions of photosynthesis. In addition, the following topics are discussed:
~ oxidation and reduction reactions
~ the electron carriers NAD+, FAD, and NADP+ and their reduced versions
~ enzymatic pathways and cycles
~ substrate level phosphorylation
~ chemiosmotic/oxidative phosphorylation looking at electron transport systems and ATP synthase functioning in detail
~ photosystems
~ chloroplast structure
~ photosystems, accessory pigments, and resonance transfer
~ initiation of photosynthesis and the role of chlorophyll-a and water
~ photosystem II and photosystem I
~ ATP production
~ the Calvin cycle
~ the role of glucose
~ guard cells, stomata, and carbon dioxide
~ C4 and CAM plants
~ glycolysis and cellular respiration
~ aerobic and anaerobic glycolysis
~ mitochondrial structure and electron transport system
~ pyruvate to acetyl CoA
~ Kreb's Cycle
~ the role of oxygen
~ the metabolic relationship between carbohydrates, proteins and lipids
~ the major biogeochemical cycles: nitrogen, phosphorus, carbon-oxygen, and water cycles
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