What is the difference between photosynthesis and chemosynthesis organisms

It is the main mechanism of cyanobacterial cell proliferation and reproduction. However, some species undergo fragmentation and multiple fission.

In addition to their photosynthetic ability, cyanobacteria can also fix atmospheric nitrogen. They contain a special structure known as heterocyst which is capable of fixing nitrogen from the atmosphere. Cyanobacterial species such as Anabaena and Nostoc are popular as nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria.

Besides, cyanobacteria are widely used as nutritional supplements due to the nutrient-rich nature of some species Spirulina, Cholerella. Moreover, some species serve as inoculants in the manufacturing process of biofertilizers. Cyanobacteria also act as an integral partner in many symbiotic relationships.

Lichen is one such important symbiotic interaction existing between fungi and cyanobacteria. Lichens are extremely important in agriculture. Despite having many positive impacts, cyanobacteria accumulation can lead to eutrophication in waterways, making them a significant pollutant of water bodies. Therefore, cyanobacteria also act as indicators of water pollution. Chemosynthetic bacteria are a group of bacteria that can produce their own food by the energy obtained from the oxidation of inorganic substances.

They are also a group of autotrophs. In fact, they are chemoautotrophs. Other bacteria make organic matter by reducing sulfide or oxidizing methane. Our knowledge of chemosynthetic communities is relatively new, brought to light by ocean exploration when humans first observed a vent on the deep ocean floor in and found a thriving community where there was no light.

Since then, chemosynthetic bacterial communities have been found in hot springs on land and on the seafloor around hydrothermal vents, cold seeps, whale carcasses, and sunken ships. No one had ever thought to look for them, but these communities were there all along. Continental Margin. Photosynthesis: Photoautotrophs and photoheterotrophs are the two categories of phototrophs. Chemosynthesis: Chemosynthesis is found in bacteria like Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, Nitrosomonas, Nitrobacter, sulfur-oxidizing proteobacteria, aquificaeles and archaea like methanogenic archaea.

Photosynthesis: Photosynthesis is found in green plants, cyanobacteria, algae and Rhodobactor like bacteria. Chemosynthesis and photosynthesis are two types of primary productions found among organisms. Chemosynthesis and photosynthesis fuel all the life forms on the earth.

Both most chemosynthetic and photosynthetic organisms utilize carbon dioxide and water in order to produce organic compounds as food. Chemosynthesis uses the chemical energy stored in inorganic compounds in order to produce simple sugars like glucose. It is the primary energy source of most of the animals found in hydrothermal vents in the deep sea, where the sunlight is unable to reach. In contrast, photosynthesis uses the light energy of the sun in order to produce glucose.

Chemosynthesis is mostly found in bacteria, which can either live independently on the seafloor or symbionts living inside animals like tube worms by replacing their guts. Land plants are the primary producers of most food chains on earth. However, the main difference between chemosynthesis and photosynthesis is their energy source. Reference: 1. National Library of Medicine, 01 Jan. Cooper, Geoffrey M. Image Courtesy: 1. View all posts. Leave a Reply Cancel reply.

The light reaction takes place in the thylakoid membrane. In the light reaction, pigment molecules absorb light energy and transfer to P chlorophyll molecules in the reaction centre of photosystem II.

Once P absorbs energy, its electrons obtain high energy and become boosted. Primary electron acceptors pick up these high energy electrons and pass via a series of carrier molecules like cytochrome and finally pass to photosystem I.

When electrons go through the carrier molecules, at each step, energy is released, and the released energy is stored in the form of ATP. It is the process called photophosphorylation.

At the same time, water molecules split by the light energy into O 2, and it is the process called photolysis of water. When four water molecules split, it produces 2 oxygen molecules, 4 protons and 4 electrons. The produced electrons from photolysis, replace the lost electrons of PS II.

Eventually, the produced oxygen releases into the atmosphere. Afterwards, when PS I obtain energy, its electrons also excite into high energy levels. Electron acceptors accept these electrons and pass into NADP molecules. The dark reaction Calvin cycle takes place in the stroma of the chloroplast. It starts by the C 5 compound called ribulose bisphosphate.