SBI4U – Metabolic Processes
Devina Notowibowo
Joel Reyes
Doug Coutts
Adam Hurley
Essential Question
Overall Expectations
C1. Analyze the role of metabolic
processes in the functioning of biotic
and abiotic systems, and evaluate
the importance of an understanding
of these processes and related
technologies to personal choices
made in everyday life
C2. Investigate the products of
metabolic processes such as
cellular respiration and
photosynthesis
C3. Demonstrate an understanding
of the chemical changes and energy
conversions that occur in metabolic
processes.
Essential Question
Big Ideas
1. All metabolic
processes involve
chemical and energy
changes
How and why do
plants and animals
obtain energy in
different ways?
2. Understanding
metabolic processes
allow people to make
informed decisions
with respect to
personal, societal and
environmental factors
Guiding Questions
1. What is the common energy molecule across all metabolic processes and how is it made?
2. How are the reactants and products of cellular respiration related to those of photosynthesis
3. What specific organelles are involved and how do their structures contribute to metabolic processes?
Unit Plan
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Day 1
Review of Macromolecules
Day 2
Introduction to cellular
respiration (possible
reactants, products,
reactions)
Day 3
Glycolysis
Day 4
Anaerobic vs. aerobic,
alcohol fermentation,
pyruvate oxidation
Day 5
Krebs cycle
Day 8
Wet Lab Yeast Fermentation
Day 9
Quiz on cellular
respiration, introduction
of photosynthesis
Day 10
Chloroplast Structure and
Function
Day 6
ETC and oxidative
phosphorylation
Day 7
Recap of cellular
respiration and
thermodynamic
Day 11
Light Reactions
Day
12
Review of light
properties, wavelengths,
chlorophylls,
photosystems,
absorption
Day 13
Dark Reactions
Day 14
Cyclic and noncyclic
phosphorylation
Day 15
Comparison between
photosynthesis and
cellular respiration
Day 16
In class assignment on
photosynthesis
Day 17
STSE
Day 18
Unit Test: Cellular
Respiration/
Photosynthesis
Next Unit
Next Unit
Major Concepts

Photosynthesis is a process whereby light
energy is used to convert carbon dioxide
and water into glucose and oxygen
◦ Light reactions convert energy light into chemical
energy in the thylakoids of chloroplasts
 Chlorophyll molecules are hit by photons and an excited
electron is lost (electrons are replaced by the oxidation
of water)
 Excited electrons move through a chain eventually
producing ATP and NADPH
◦ Dark reactions use the ATP and NADPH to
convert CO2 into glucose in the Calvin cycle
 Rubisco (enzyme) “fixes” CO2 from the atmosphere
into organic carbon
Cellular Respiration
Cellular respiration is a metabolic process whereby glucose
is converted to carbon dioxide and water, and the energy is
released in the form of ATP production.
 Glycolysis which breaks glucose into pyruvate,
 Pyruvate Oxidation: pyruvate is then converted into acetyl
CoA
 Krebs Cycle: Acetyl CoA is fully oxidized to CO2

◦ Electron carriers called NADH and FADH2 are produced from
the previous stages to feed electrons in the electron transport
chain
Electron Transport Chain: The electrons pass through the
chain and pump protons to form an electrochemical gradient,
the electrons eventually reduce oxygen into water
 Chemiosmosis and Oxidative Phosphorylation: The energy
from the proton gradient drives catalytic reaction of ADP
and Pi to make ATP

Misconceptions

Plant light reactions occur in the light, dark
reactions occur in the dark
◦ Light reactions are light DEPENDENT
◦ Dark reactions are light INDEPENDENT

Only plants perform photosynthesis, and
animals perform cellular respiration
◦ Plants, algae, and cyanobacteria can
photosynthesize
◦ ALL organisms perform cellular respiration

ALL biomass comes from CO2
Connections to other Units




Biochemistry – Biochemistry has the
fundamental concepts needed to understand
metabolic processes (macromolecules,
enzymes, organelles)
Molecular Genetics – genes code for
proteins which can become enzymes,
structural proteins, for metabolic processes
Homeostasis – homeostasis
up/downregulates metabolic processes
Population dynamics – not much..