What Is Chemosynthesis ?
For students of biology, there are different reasons why you decided to study this discipline, and you need to use both observation and experimentation to develop the right understanding of the natural world. It’s necessary to study different departments, including biotechnology, molecular biology, ecology, microbiology, genetics, and so on. What is chemosynthesis ? If you need to answer this question in academic assignments, learn more about this biological conversion of 1 or more carbon molecules and nutrients into some organic matter by using the oxidation of inorganic chemicals as the main source of energy. For example, if you’re asked by professors to write an excellent definition essay on this subject, make sure that it’s concentrated on explaining its meaning in biology. You can analyze it either from the position of its scientific meaning or from the position of someone who defines this term.
Basically, it’s all about the process that specific organisms use to get the energy necessary to produce food, and it’s quite similar to photosynthesis (but without using the sunlight). This energy is obtained from the oxidation of inorganic chemicals that organisms can find in their natural environment. This process occurs in a wide range of bacteria and archaea, so you should understand that the life forms that use it to get enough energy can be found in many environments, such as petroleum deposits, soil, extreme conditions, and so on. They are easily adapted to different circumstances, and that’s why some scientists think that they are the direct descendants of the earliest forms of life.
What is chemosynthesis ? It’s all about the process of converting carbon (methane or carbon dioxide) into organic molecules but without any sunlight presence. It’s possible to use hydrogen sulfide or methane as the main energy source to make this important reaction. Keep in mind that certain bacteria can do that in the aphotic sea area and other extreme environments. Besides, other organisms consume these bacteria so that the entire food chain is not dependent only on the sunlight.
A Variety of Methods
As a student who studies biology, you should know that those organisms that make their food out of different inorganic chemicals are called autotrophs. Their food consists of carbs, including glucose, but it requires a lot of energy to manufacture. Autotrophs use the sunlight to perform photosynthesis when it’s available, but in those places where there is no sunlight, specific types have evolved, and they use a chemical energy (they are called chemoautotrophs). There are many methods that have arisen, and they all can be determined by available chemicals and conditions. Don’t forget about it when making your coursework definition in biology.
You also need to know that chemosynthesis uses specific oxidation-reduction reactions (they are also called redox reactions) to supply the energy necessary to produce carbs from water and carbon dioxide. They involve the loss of electrons from 1 substance and adding them to another. The substance that receives them (which is usually oxygen) must be reduced, while the other one (that supplies electrons) is oxidized. Take into account that this type of reduction requires a lot of energy, but the good news is that oxidation releases it. This means that both reactions occur together, but the ones used in chemosynthesis lead to the overall energy release.
When it comes to photosynthesis, its actual reactions are quite complex because they involve many steps. You can summarize them in terms of end products and raw materials, including the food that comes as some carbs. When enough sulfides are available, they can be oxidized to produce sulfates or sulfur. Besides, iron can be oxidized, while methane (that can be present as a natural gas) is a great source of both carbon and energy for many microorganisms in addition to being a byproduct of chemosynthesis for other organisms. Remember that the oxidation of ammonia to nitrates and nitrites is the other method that can provide some life forms with the necessary energy source. What is chemosynthesis ? There are many organisms (called extremophiles) that use it to produce food in specific environments with extreme pressure, temperature, salinity, and other conditions that are considered hostile to most organisms. They have different adaptations that allow them to survive, including unique enzymes that can’t be deactivated by high temperature levels.
What Students Should Know about Environments
It’s true that hydrothermal vents belong to the most remarkable environments on this planet. Take into account that they consist of the streams of chemical-rich and hot water that pours out from the ocean floor when it comes to geologically active zones (like mid-oceanic ridges). These areas may seem hostile to life because there is no light, their temperatures are quite cold, and they are full of toxic and harmful chemicals. However, they still have different thriving ecosystems that are supported by the microorganisms involved in chemosynthesis. They include bacteria and archaea: two groups of organisms that appear similar, but they are genetically and chemically different. Make sure that you remember that when making your personal statement on this subject.
Another important fact that should be mentioned is that the hot water produced by specific hydrothermal vents is quite rich with sulfides, and they are used by microbes for chemosynthesis while releasing methane as their byproduct (these microorganisms are called methanogens). There are other chemosynthetic microbes that get the energy they need by the oxidation of methane, thus converting sulfates to sulfides during this process. Don’t forget that this type of oxidation also happens in those areas where petroleum seeps upward into the ocean floor.
You should realize that those ecologies that surround deep-sea vents are richer compared to those that are placed away from this chemical source, and this means that they must survive only on dead organic matters. What is chemosynthesis ? Chemosynthetic life forms are important not only because they provide the necessary foundation for larger groups of organisms that consume them to survive, but they also form significant symbiotic relationships with others. There one great example: tubeworms start their lives with a gut and a mouth used to take in a large number of chemosynthetic bacteria. They lose their mouths at a later stage and keep surviving by eating the food produced by internal bacteria.
Pay attention to chemosynthetic extremophile microorganisms that can be found in hot springs (this is where they survive due to the oxidation of ammonia and sulfur) and rocks below the surface (this is where they get enough energy by oxidizing iron). Besides, chemosynthesis takes place in more common places, such as the soil where nitrifying bacteria convert ammonia into nitrates and nitrites. Another great example is about the archaea that generate methane (these microorganisms can be found in swamps, marshes).
The Important Role and Uses of Chemosynthesis
What is chemosynthesis ? If you already know the answer to this question, you should be able to tell others more about its role and important uses. For instance, concentrate on nitrifying bacteria in the soil because they provide the nitrogen necessary to plants, and this means that they are important for the entire nitrogen cycle. All animals and plants can’t survive without them! There are certain suggestions that the earliest life forms also used chemosynthesis to produce organic compounds from the inorganic ones, and this process may be responsible for establishing life on this planet. Scientists keep suggesting different ways and methods in which chemoautotrophs can be put to their good use, such as using them to produce methane for fuel. Keep in mind that most of these organisms live on toxic chemicals and release harmless byproducts, and that’s why it’s possible to use them for detoxifying specific types of dangerous waste.
Other Planets and Chemosynthesis
If you need to complete an academic assignment, such as a turabian paper, on this topic, learn more about the ability of certain chemosynthesis organisms to survive in extreme conditions and environments. That’s why some scientists think that these life forms may exist on other planets too (especially in those environments that are not suitable for more common and familiar life types). There are many experiments suggesting that some of these organisms may survive beneath the surface of Mars because the methane traces found in its atmosphere might be resulted from the activities of methanogenic microorganisms. Besides, another potential location for this life form is Europa (one of Jupiter’s moons) where liquid water may exist under the surface.
Molecular Nanotechnology and Chemosynthesis
This term is used in this field quite broadly, and it refers to a chemical synthesis that involves the reactions that occur because of any random thermal motion. Nowadays, this class encompasses almost the whole synthetic chemistry, so it’s easy to find relevant case study examples. Different chemical engineering processes are presented as the biomimicry of this natural phenomenon. It can be contrasted with mechanosynthesis, which is a hypothetical process that involves individual molecules that are mechanically manipulated to make it possible to control specific reactions to human specifications.
You should already know that photosynthesis and other similar natural processes are responsible for creating very complex molecules contained in RNA and DNA forms. Besides, carbon nanotubes can be produced by the chain of specific non-biological reactions designed using a basic biology model. Using chemosynthesis can reinforce the view that there are different alternative tools to create complex proteins evolved naturally, and not all of them depend on photosynthesis and chlorophyll.
Basic Historical Facts
Did you know? People’s knowledge of chemosynthesis and everything related to its communities is quite new and it was brought to light by exploring the ocean. One of the most important details that you should know when learning how to write a reaction paperon this subject is that the communities associated with hydrothermal vents literally shocked the scientific world when people first observed them on the ocean floor (1977). This discovery in addition to exploring cold-water methane seeps gave people a completely new vision of primary production, but the main irony is that once they knew what to search for, they switched to other common ecosystems rich in hydrogen sulfites, including salt marshes.
Differences between Chemosynthesis and Photosynthesis
They are both processes used by organisms to produce the food they need, but the main difference is that chemosynthesis uses chemical energy, while photosynthesis runs on the sunlight. All existing ecosystems depend on the ability of organisms to convert specific inorganic compounds into the food exploited and consumed by others. In most cases, the primary food production happens due to photosynthesis powered by the sunlight, but in a few environments it happens through chemosynthesis that runs on chemical energy, and both processes fuel all life forms on the planet.
Our Service Charter
-
Excellent Quality / 100% Plagiarism-Free
We employ a number of measures to ensure top quality essays. The papers go through a system of quality control prior to delivery. We run plagiarism checks on each paper to ensure that they will be 100% plagiarism-free. So, only clean copies hit customers’ emails. We also never resell the papers completed by our writers. So, once it is checked using a plagiarism checker, the paper will be unique. Speaking of the academic writing standards, we will stick to the assignment brief given by the customer and assign the perfect writer. By saying “the perfect writer” we mean the one having an academic degree in the customer’s study field and positive feedback from other customers. -
Free Revisions
We keep the quality bar of all papers high. But in case you need some extra brilliance to the paper, here’s what to do. First of all, you can choose a top writer. It means that we will assign an expert with a degree in your subject. And secondly, you can rely on our editing services. Our editors will revise your papers, checking whether or not they comply with high standards of academic writing. In addition, editing entails adjusting content if it’s off the topic, adding more sources, refining the language style, and making sure the referencing style is followed. -
Confidentiality / 100% No Disclosure
We make sure that clients’ personal data remains confidential and is not exploited for any purposes beyond those related to our services. We only ask you to provide us with the information that is required to produce the paper according to your writing needs. Please note that the payment info is protected as well. Feel free to refer to the support team for more information about our payment methods. The fact that you used our service is kept secret due to the advanced security standards. So, you can be sure that no one will find out that you got a paper from our writing service. -
Money Back Guarantee
If the writer doesn’t address all the questions on your assignment brief or the delivered paper appears to be off the topic, you can ask for a refund. Or, if it is applicable, you can opt in for free revision within 14-30 days, depending on your paper’s length. The revision or refund request should be sent within 14 days after delivery. The customer gets 100% money-back in case they haven't downloaded the paper. All approved refunds will be returned to the customer’s credit card or Bonus Balance in a form of store credit. Take a note that we will send an extra compensation if the customers goes with a store credit. -
24/7 Customer Support
We have a support team working 24/7 ready to give your issue concerning the order their immediate attention. If you have any questions about the ordering process, communication with the writer, payment options, feel free to join live chat. Be sure to get a fast response. They can also give you the exact price quote, taking into account the timing, desired academic level of the paper, and the number of pages.