Which statement best describes the relationship between photosynthesis and cellular respiration?

Which statement best describes the relationship between photosynthesis and cellular respiration?

• A. They are the same process in reverse.
• B. They are complementary; photosynthesis stores energy as glucose, respiration releases energy from glucose.
• C. They occur only in plants.
• D. They require light for respiration.

Answer: (B)

Energy flow in cells comes from photosynthesis and cellular respiration working in tandem. Photosynthesis captures light energy to build glucose, storing energy in chemical bonds. Cellular respiration then takes that glucose and releases the stored energy to form ATP, which powers cellular work. In photosynthesis, carbon dioxide and water are used to make glucose and oxygen; in cellular respiration, glucose and oxygen are broken down to carbon dioxide and water, with ATP produced along the way. Because one process stores energy in glucose and the other unlocks that energy by producing ATP, they are complementary parts of how life captures and uses energy. They aren’t simply the same process in reverse, they occur in different parts of cells and in many organisms, and respiration does not require light—it can occur in light or dark. This relationship makes the described statement the best description.

Energy flow in cells comes from photosynthesis and cellular respiration working in tandem. Photosynthesis captures light energy to build glucose, storing energy in chemical bonds. Cellular respiration then takes that glucose and releases the stored energy to form ATP, which powers cellular work. In photosynthesis, carbon dioxide and water are used to make glucose and oxygen; in cellular respiration, glucose and oxygen are broken down to carbon dioxide and water, with ATP produced along the way. Because one process stores energy in glucose and the other unlocks that energy by producing ATP, they are complementary parts of how life captures and uses energy. They aren’t simply the same process in reverse, they occur in different parts of cells and in many organisms, and respiration does not require light—it can occur in light or dark. This relationship makes the described statement the best description.