Textbook Question
Unlike plant cell walls that contain cellulose, bacterial cell walls are composed of ___________.
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Ch. 26 - Bacteria and Archaea
Freeman8th EditionBiological ScienceISBN: 9780138276263
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Table of contents
- Ch. 1 - Biology: The Study of Life13
- Ch. 2 - Water and Carbon: The Chemical Basis of Life14
- Ch.3 - Protein Structure and Function10
- Ch.4 - Nucleic Acids and the RNA World10
- Ch. 5 - An Introduction to Carbohydrates10
- Ch. 6 - Lipids, Membranes, and the First Cells11
- Ch. 7 - Inside the Cell10
- Ch. 8 - Energy and Enzymes: An Introduction to Metabolism10
- Ch. 9 - Cellular Respiration and Fermentation11
- Ch. 10 - Photosynthesis12
- Ch. 11 - Cell-Cell Interactions12
- Ch. 12 - The Cell Cycle8
- Ch. 13 - Meiosis12
- Ch. 14 - Mendel and the Gene23
- Ch. 15 - DNA and the Gene: Synthesis and Repair15
- Ch. 16 - How Genes Work16
- Ch. 17 - Transcription, RNA Processing, and Translation16
- Ch. 18 - Control of Gene Expression in Bacteria16
- Ch. 19 - Control of Gene Expression in Eukaryotes12
- Ch. 20 - The Molecular Revolution: Biotechnology, Genomics, and New Frontiers15
- Ch. 21 - Genes, Development, and Evolution12
- Ch. 22 - Evolution by Natural Selection16
- Ch. 23 - Evolutionary Processes13
- Ch. 24 - Speciation15
- Ch. 25 - Phylogenies and the History of Life13
- Ch. 26 - Bacteria and Archaea15
- Ch. 27 - Diversification of Eukaryotes16
- Ch. 28 - Green Algae and Land Plants16
- Ch. 29 - Fungi18
- Ch. 30 - An Introduction to Animals9
- Ch. 31 - Protostome Animals15
- Ch. 32 - Deuterostome Animals17
- Ch. 33 - Viruses16
- Ch. 34 - Plant Form and Function16
- Ch. 35 - Water and Sugar Transport in Plants16
- Ch. 36 - Plant Nutrition13
- Ch. 37 - Plant Sensory Systems, Signals, and Responses16
- Ch. 38 - Flowering Plant Reproduction and Development16
- Ch. 39 - Animal Form and Function17
- Ch. 40 - Water and Electrolyte Balance in Animals16
- Ch. 41 - Animal Nutrition16
- Ch. 42 - Gas Exchange and Circulation16
- Ch. 43 - Animal Nervous Systems16
- Ch. 44 - Animal Sensory Systems16
- Ch. 45 - Animal Movement11
- Ch. 46 - Chemical Signals in Animals16
- Ch. 47 - Animal Reproduction and Development16
- Ch. 48 - The Immune System in Animals16
- Ch. 49 - An Introduction to Ecology15
- Ch. 50 - Behavioral Ecology16
- Ch. 51 - Population Ecology16
- Ch. 52 - Community Ecology20
- Ch. 53 - Ecosystems and Global Ecology17
- Ch. 54 - Biodiversity and Conservation Ecology18
Chapter 26, Problem 6
Biologists often use the term 'energy source' as a synonym for 'electron donor.' Why?
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Understand the concept of 'energy source': In biological systems, an energy source is something that can be used to drive biological processes by providing the necessary energy to cells.
Recognize the role of electrons in energy production: Electrons play a crucial role in cellular respiration and photosynthesis, where they are transferred through various molecules to ultimately produce ATP, the energy currency of the cell.
Connect 'electron donor' to 'energy source': An electron donor is a substance that can donate electrons to another substance. In biological systems, these donated electrons are used to generate energy, thus making the electron donor an energy source.
Consider examples: In photosynthesis, water acts as an electron donor, releasing electrons that are then used to convert light energy into chemical energy. In cellular respiration, glucose is an electron donor, providing electrons that help in the production of ATP.
Summarize the synonymy: Since electron donors provide the necessary electrons for energy production in biological processes, they are effectively serving as energy sources. Therefore, biologists use these terms interchangeably.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Energy Source
In biological systems, an energy source refers to any substance that can provide energy for metabolic processes. This energy is often harnessed through the transfer of electrons during chemical reactions, particularly in cellular respiration and photosynthesis. Organisms utilize various energy sources, such as glucose or sunlight, to fuel their biological functions.
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Electron Donor
An electron donor is a molecule that donates electrons to another molecule in a redox (reduction-oxidation) reaction. In biological contexts, electron donors are crucial for processes like cellular respiration, where they provide the electrons needed to generate ATP, the energy currency of the cell. Common electron donors include NADH and FADH2, which are derived from metabolic pathways.
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Redox Reactions
Redox reactions are chemical reactions that involve the transfer of electrons between two species, leading to changes in their oxidation states. These reactions are fundamental to energy production in biological systems, as they allow for the conversion of energy stored in nutrients into usable forms. Understanding redox reactions is essential for grasping how electron donors and energy sources function in metabolism.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
Evaluate these statements about Koch's postulates, which are used to establish a causative link between a specific microbe and a specific disease. Select True or False for each statement.
T/FThe microbe must be present in individuals suffering from the disease and absent from healthy individuals.
T/FThe microbe must be isolated and grown in pure culture.
T/FIf organisms from the pure culture are injected into a healthy experimental animal, the disease symptoms should appear.
T/FThe microbe does not have to be isolated from the experimental animal as long as the disease is present.
Textbook Question
What has metagenomic analysis allowed researchers to do for the first time? a. sample organisms from an environment and grow them under defined conditions in the lab b. isolate organisms from an environment and sequence their entire genome c. study organisms that cannot be cultured (grown in the lab) d. identify important morphological differences among species
Textbook Question
The text claims that the evolution of an oxygen-rich atmosphere paved the way for increasingly efficient cellular respiration and higher growth rates in organisms. Explain.
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Textbook Question
Streptococcus mutans obtains energy by oxidizing sucrose. This bacterium is abundant in the mouths of Western European and North American children and is a prominent cause of cavities. The organism is virtually absent in children from East Africa, where tooth decay is rare. Propose a hypothesis to explain this observation. Outline the design of a study that would test your hypothesis.
Textbook Question
Suppose that you've been hired by a firm interested in using bacteria to clean up organic solvents found in toxic waste dumps. Your new employer is particularly interested in finding cells that are capable of breaking a molecule called benzene into less-toxic compounds. Where would you go to look for bacteria that can metabolize benzene as an energy or carbon source? How would you design an enrichment culture capable of isolating benzene-metabolizing species?