Module

4 ECOSYSTEM: Life Energy

1st Quarter
Week 6 & 7

Overview
In module 3, you have learned how changes in the environment may affect species
extinction. It helps you understand how to prevent extinction of organisms in an ecosystem.
In this module, you will learn that all organisms need energy to sustain life. Your
study will focus on how organisms obtain energy from food and how organisms produce
energy.
In order to sustain life, all organisms require energy, but not all of them can use light
energy directly for life activities. To provide the energy needed by all organisms, plants and
other chlorophyll-bearing organisms capture the energy of sunlight and convert it into
chemical energy stored in the food.

What I Need to Know

At the end of the module, learners are expected to:

1. Differentiate basic features and importance of photosynthesis and respiration.

a) Describe the parts of organelles involved in photosynthesis and cellular
respiration.
b)  Describe the process of food making by plants.
c)  Describe how stored energy from food is changed to chemical energy for cell use.
d)  Identify the factors that affect the rate of photosynthesis and cellular respiration.

2. Design and conduct an investigation to provide evidence that plants can manufacture
their own food.

What I Know
Let’s Check!
To check what you already know of the topic that this module is going to discuss,
answer the following questions. Choose the correct letter of the answer and write on the
separate sheet.
1. Plants make food by absorbing water and carbon dioxide. Which of the following
substances is the origin of oxygen released as gas by green plants during
photosynthesis?
a. water c. carbon dioxide
b. sugar d.ribulose-1,5-biphosphate

2. Oxygen and carbon dioxide are gases that cycle out in the ecosystem. Which of the
following gases is important to photosynthesis.
a. ozone gas c. chloroplast
b. water vapor d. carbon dioxide

3. Plants are considered as food makers. In which of the following cell organelles
does photosynthesis occur?
a. ribosome c. chloroplast
b. chlorophyll d. mitochondrion

4. The light-dependent reaction of photosynthesis must come first before the light
independent reaction because its products are important to the fixation of carbon
dioxide. Which of the following is/are the product/s of the light–dependent reaction?

a. ADP only c. ATP only

b. NADPH only d. NADPH and ATP

5. Plants are very unique among other organisms due to their capability to trap
sunlight and make their own food. Which of the following enables plants to trap
energy from the sun?
a. epidermis c. cuticle
b. chloroplast d. chlorophyll

6. All organisms get energy from food to perform different life processes. This is
done in the cells by breaking down sugar molecules into chemical energy. Which of
the following cell organelles is associated with the production of chemical energy?
a. chloroplast c. endoplasmic reticulum
b. mitochondrion d. nucleus

7. Pyruvate is the product of glycolysis. If there is no oxygen available to cells of the

human body, what becomes of pyruvate?
a. alcohol acid c. CO2
b. lactic d. a and c

8. If you did not eat for three days, where did your cell get the glucose for ATP
production?
a. blood sugar c. glycogen present in the muscle
b. glycogen in the liver d. protein in the blood
9. How many molecule/s of carbon dioxide is/are released from one pyruvic acid
molecule being oxidized?
a. 1 c. 2
b. 3 d. 4

10.During the synthesis of ATP, what is the direction of hydrogen flow?

a. from matrix to intermembrane space
b. from intermembrane space to matrix
c. from matrix of mitochondrion to cytoplasm
d. from cytoplasm to matrix of mitochondrion

What’s In

Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis is a process of food making done by plants and other autotrophic

organisms. The presence of chlorophyll enables these organisms to make their own food.
Autotrophic organisms require light energy, carbon dioxide (CO2), and water (H2O) to make
food (sugar).
In plants, photosynthesis primarily takes place in the leaves and little or none in
stems depending on the presence of chlorophyll. The typical parts of the leaves include the
upper and lower epidermis, mesophyll spongy layer, vascular bundles, and stomates. The
upper and lower epidermis protects the leaves and has nothing to do with photosynthetic
processes. Mesophyll has the most number of chloroplasts that contain chlorophyll. They are
important in trapping light energy from the sun. Vascular bundles - phloem and xylem serve
as transporting vessels of manufactured food and water. Carbon dioxide and oxygen were
collected in the spongy layer and enters and exits the leaf through the stomata.
The parts of a chloroplast include the outer and inner membranes, intermembrane
space, stroma and thylakoids stacked in grana. The chlorophyll is built into the membranes
of the thylakoids. Chlorophyll absorbs white light but it looks green because white light
consists of three primary colors: red, blue, and green. Only red and blue light is absorbed
thus making these colors unavailable to be seen by our eyes while the green light is
reflected which makes the chlorophyll looks green. However, it is the energy from red light
and blue light that are absorbed and will be used in photosynthesis. The green light that we
can see is not absorbed by the plant and thus, cannot be used in photosynthesis.
There are two stages of photosynthesis: (a) Light-dependent Reaction and (b) Calvin
Cycle (dark reaction). Light-dependent reaction happens in the presence of light. It occurs in
the thylakoid membrane and converts light energy to chemical energy. Water-one of the raw
materials of photosynthesis-is utilized during this stage and facilitates the formation of free
electrons and oxygen.
 The energy harvested during this stage is stored in the form of ATP (Adenosine
Triphosphate) and NADPH( Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate Hydrogen).
These products will be needed in the next stage to complete photosynthetic process.
Calvin Cycle (dark reaction) is a light-independent phase that takes place in the
stroma and converts Carbon dioxide (CO2) into sugar. This stage does not directly need
light but needs the products of light reaction. This is why it occurs immediately after the light-
dependent phase.

The chemical reaction for photosynthesis is:

Carbon Dioxide + Water Chlorophyll Glucose + Oxygen

(CO2) (H2O) Sunlight (C6H12O6) (O2)

What’s New
Activity 1
What are the structures involved in the food making process in plants?

You will go to different learning stations by group and will visit some websites found
on the activity sheets provided by your teacher. These websites contain information
about the plant structures and processes involved in photosynthesis. As you visit the
websites in different learning stations you must answer the questions.

Learning station 1: Plant Structure for Photosynthesis

Draw and label the parts of a chloroplast and the internal structure of a leaf. Write
your answer in the box.

A. Internal structure of a leaf

B. Chloroplast
Learning Station 2:
Identify the raw materials and end products of photosynthesis.

Complete the table below: Write the raw materials and products of photosynthesis.

Raw Materials Products

____________________________
_ _____________________________________

Learning Station 3: Understanding the Process of Food making

After watching the video clip on photosynthesis, make a concept map of the entire
process by filling up the figures with the processes involved, raw materials used, and
end products of the entire process of food making.

KEY CONCEPTS:
Plants have green pigments called chlorophyll stored in the chloroplast. This pigment aids in
capturing light energy from the sun that enables plants to change it into chemical energy stored in
the food. This process is called photosynthesis.

Carbon Dioxide + Water Chlorophyll Glucose + Oxygen

(CO2) (H2O) Sunlight (C6H12O6) (O2)

 What is it?
Now that you understand photosynthesis, try to look and examine the
structure that enables the entrance and exit of gases in the leaf.

Activity 2
Investigating the Leaf Stomata

Objectives:
Identify the stomata
Describe the function of the stomata

Materials:
Leaf of Rheo discolor (boat lily) Clear nail polish
Glass slide Clear tape
Microscope

Figure 1: Stomata
Procedure:
1. Paint a thick patch of clear nail polish on the lower surface of the leaf.
2. Allow the nail polish to dry completely.
3. Put a clear tape to the dried nail polished patch.
4. Gently peel the nail polished patch by pulling the corner of the clear tape. This will
serve as your leaf impression for microscopic observation.
5. Tape your leaf impression on a clean glass slide.
6. Observe the leaf impression under low power objective of the microscope. Have
you seen similar structures as shown in Figure1?

Q1. Draw and label the stomata as seen under the microscope. Which do you think are the
stomata?
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KEY CONCEPTS:
Stomata are found on the lower surface of the leaf that allows the entrance of carbon
dioxide needed for photosynthesis. They also serve as exit point for the oxygen produced
during photosynthesis.
Cellular Respiration
 All heterotrophic organisms including man, depend directly or indirectly on
plants and other photosynthetic organisms for food. Why do we need food?
Organisms need food as the main source of energy. All organisms need energy to
perform essential life processes.

The food must be digested to simple forms such as glucose, amino acids, and
triglycerides. These are then transported to the cells. The immediate energy source
of the cells is glucose. Glucose inside the cell is broken down to release the stored
energy. This stored energy is harvested in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
ATP is a high-energy molecule needed by working cells.

Glycolysis

In glycolysis, the 6-carbon sugar, glucose, is broken down into two molecules
of a 3- carbon molecule called pyruvate. This change is accompanied by a net gain
of 2 ATP molecules and 2 NADH molecules.

Krebs Cycle

The Krebs Cycle occurs in the mitochondrial matrix and generates a pool of
chemical energy (ATP, NADH, and FADH 2) from the oxidation of pyruvate, the end
product of glycolysis.

http://www.hartnell.edu/tutorial s/biology/cellularrespiration.html
 Pyruvate is transported into the mitochondria and loses carbon dioxide to form
acetyl-CoA, a 2-carbon molecule. When acetyl-CoA is oxidized to carbon dioxide in
the Krebs cycle, chemical energy is released and captured in the form of NADH,
FADH2, and ATP.

Electron Transport Chain

The electron transport chain allows the release of the large amount of
chemical energy stored in reduced NAD+ (NADH) and reduced FAD (FADH2). The
energy released is captured in the form of ATP (3 ATP per NADH and 2 ATP per
FADH2).

http://www.hartnell.edu/tutorials/biology/cellularrespiration.htm

Mitochondria are membrane-enclosed organelles distributed through the of

most eukaryotic cells. Their main function is the conversion of the potential energy of
food molecules into ATP. This organelle has important parts. An outer membrane
encloses the entire structure that contains many complexes of integral membrane
proteins that form openings. A variety of molecules and ions move in and out of the
mitochondrion through the openings. An inner membrane encloses a fluid-filled
matrix. This membrane contains five complexes of integral proteins such as:

NADH dehydrogenase
succinate dehydrogenase
cytochrome c reductase (the cytochrome b-c1complex)
cytochrome c oxidase
ATP synthase
Task: Describe each part of the mitochondrion

Eg. Cristae are the inner folded membrane of the mitochondrion.

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KEY CONCEPTS

Mitochondrion is considered as the power house of the cell. It plays an important role in the
breakdown of food molecules to release the stored energy in the form of ATP (Adenosine
Triphosphate).
 What’s more?

Activity 3

Let Us ReCharge!

In this activity, you will learn the basic concept of how your cells release the
energy from the food you eat. Thus, you will understand how your eating habits and
daily activities affect the production and storage of energy of your body cells.

A. Understanding Glycolysis

Guide Questions:

1. Which of the terms found in the diagram is considered a process?

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2. In which part of the cell does the process take place?

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3. What is the raw material?

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4. What are the products?

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 Based on the diagram shown above, briefly describe the first step of
cellular respiration, emphasizing the location, raw materials needed and the
end products.
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B. Let us go round and round..

You have understood and identified the raw material and end products
of Glycolysis. This time you will see the importance of the end products of
Glycolysis in the next stage, the KREBS CYCLE.

Your task is to arrange the following events in the Krebs Cycle in

proper sequence. Base your answer on the diagram. Assign numbers 1-7 in
the space provided to indicate the correct sequence of events; then rewrite
them in a paragraph form.

Cristae

Mitochondrial matrix

_____A. In a series of steps, the hydrogen and high energy electrons are
removed from the 2-carbon molecule.

_____B. The 2-carbon molecule enters the cycle and joins a 4-carbon molecule.
_____C. One ATP is formed.

_____D. Two carbon dioxide are released.

_____E. Three NAD+ are converted to 3 NADH and 3 H+.

_____F. At the end of the cycle, nothing remains of the original glucose molecule.

_____G. One FAD is converted into 1 FADH2.

C. Pump it out!

You will watch a short video clip about oxidative phosphorylation or

electron transport chain, the final stage of cellular respiration. After viewing
the clip, answer the following questions. The animation of electron transport
chain can be viewed on the link below.
http://www.hartnell.edu/tutorials/biology/cellularrespiration.html

1. How will you describe the flow of electrons?

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2. What do you think is the importance of NADH and FADH 2 in the process?
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3. What is the final acceptor of the electron in the process?
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4. What compound is formed when the electron combines with the last acceptor?
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What I Can Do

Now you have understood how energy from the sun is captured and
converted to life energy. This time, you will try to provide possible solutions to
a community problem or issue on food production. Most communities in urban
areas depend mostly on the supply of the crops from rural areas. What you
need to do is to provide urban communities with insights on how they can
build small urban gardens in their homes. You will apply what you have
learned in photosynthesis.
You are going to develop a material such as brochure, multimedia
presentation, a facebook page, or a web page that contains tips and
information on how to put up an urban garden for crops suited for homes with
limited space for planting.
 The creation of your project should be guided with a product/project rubric that
can also be used as a scoring guide for grading the students’ performance and
learning output.

Multimedia Presentation Rubric

CONTENT 4 3 2 1
Purpose My presentation has a My presentation has a My presentation has a My presentation’s topic
purpose or theme. All the topic. All the parts of topic. Most parts of my is unclear. Many parts
parts of my presentation say my presentation say presentation say of my presentation
something meaningful about something important something important seem off topic.
the purpose or theme. about the topic. about the topic.
Conclusions I use my background I draw reasonable With help, I draw I rarely draw
knowledge to interpret my conclusions from my conclusions from my conclusions from my
research information and research. research. research.
draw meaningful
conclusions.
Key Points My presentation combines My presentation I try to describe the My presentation is too
my research and the describes the main main ideas of my wordy or missing
conclusions I have drawn ideas of my research research in a few important information.
into a few concise, important and the conclusions I points but my
points. have drawn in a few presentation may be
points. too words or missing
information.
Supporting I include appropriate, I include appropriate I try to include findings I do not include enough
Information meaningful findings from findings from research from research to information to support
credible research that to support and explain support and explain and explain my main
support and explain my main my main points. my main points, but points.
points. some information is
incomplete or
inaccurate.
Multimedia I used graphics, video, I use graphics, video, I use graphic, video, I do not use the
Features sound, and other multimedia sound, and other sound, and other features of multimedia
features effectively to multimedia features to multimedia features, presentations, or the
support my key points and support my key points. but sometimes they features that I use are
make my presentation more I follow copyright laws distract from the distracting. I often do
meaningful. I follow all when I use multimedia meaning. I usually not follow copyright
copyright laws when I use features. follow copyright laws laws when I use
multimedia features. when I use multimedia multimedia features.
features.
Creativity My presentation includes My presentation try to include unusual My presentation
unusual and surprising includes some and surprising includes no unusual or
features and components unusual and surprising features, but they do surprising features, or
that excite my audience features that interest not add to the the features I add
about my topic and add to my audience and meaning of my detract from the
the meaning. relate to the meaning. presentation. meaning.
Organization My presentation begins with My presentation My presentation is My presentation is
a slide that introduces the begins with a slide that missing a clear missing an
theme in an builds introduces the theme, introduction or and introduction, a
information in a logical way, builds information, and information may be conclusion, and a
and ends with a slide that ends with a concluding presented in an sense of ender.
leaves the audience with an slide. illogical way.
interesting idea about the
theme to think about.
 Assessment

Direction: Choose the letter of the best answer. Write your answer on your answer
sheet.

1. A farmer is experiencing a problem in growing his crops. Most of the leaves of the crops
are turning yellow. Which of the following will likely result from the yellowing of the leaves of
the crops?
a. It will increase the production of food.
b. It will decrease the production of food.
c. The production of food will remain the same.
d. None of the above.

2. Abby wants to know if leaves are capable of making food during nighttime. Which of the
following experimental design should Abby do to get an accurate answer to her question?
a. Put one potted plant in a very dark place over night and test for the presence of
starch.
b. Cover the plant with paper bag overnight and test for the presence of starch.
c. Put one potted plant under the sun and the other in a shaded area for two
hours and test for the presence of starch.
d. Cover one leaf of a potted plant with carbon paper for two hours and test for
the presence of starch.

3. Which of the following materials are cycled out by the chloroplast and mitochondrion?

a. Carbon dioxide, water, oxygen, and ATP

b. Carbon dioxide, water, sugar and oxygen
c. Sugar, water, oxygen, and ATP
d. Sugar, water, sunlight, and oxygen

4. When cells breakdown a sugar molecule completely to produce chemical energy

(ATP), the cells need the following materials_________
a. Sugar and oxygen c. Sugar only
b. Sugar and water d. Sugar and carbon dioxide

5. A vegetable farmer wants to increase his harvest. Which of the following conditions should
the farmer consider?
a. The kind of soil only c. The location of the plots only
b. The amount of water only d. All of the above

6. Oxygen is essential in cellular respiration. What is the role of oxygen in the electron
transport chain?
a. It provides a high energy proton. b. It releases an electron.
c. It serves as the final acceptor. d. It forms water.
7. What will happen if ATP and NADPH are already used up at night?
a. Less oxygen will be produced.
b. Less carbon dioxide will be used.
c. Glucose production will stop.
d. Water molecule will split to form electrons.

8. Which of the following best explains why planting trees and putting up urban gardens can
help prevent global warming?
a. Plants produce oxygen during day time and perform transpiration.
b. Plants absorb carbon dioxide that contributes to the rising of earth’s temperature.
c. Plants perform photosynthesis.
d. Plants use up carbon dioxide during photosynthesis, release oxygen to the
environment, and perform transpiration.

9. Sugarcane juice is used in making table sugar which is extracted from the stem of the
plant. Trace the path of sugar molecules found in the stem from where they are produced.
a. Root ---- stem c. flowers ---- leaf ----stem
b. Leaf-----stem d. roots---leaf----stem

10. When cells break down food into chemical energy it undergoes three major processes,
glycolysis, Krebs cycle and electron transport. Which of these processes provides the most
number of ATP molecules?
a. Glycolysis c. electron transport chain
b. Krebs cycle d. no idea

ANSWER KEY

Let’s Activity 1 Activity 2

Check
Learning Station 1a Learning Station 1b
1. A
2. D
3. C
4. D
5. D Stomata are mostly found on the
6. B lower surface of the leaf of land
7. D plants. They consist of two
8. C specialized cells, called guard
Learning Station 2 cells. Their main function is to
9. C allow gases such as carbon
10. A Raw Materials- Sunlight, Chlorophyll, Carbon dioxide, Water
dioxide, water vapor, and oxygen
Products- Sugar (food, glucose) to move rapidly into and out of the
Learning Station 3 leaf.
(In: water) (In: Carbon Dioxide)
Photosynthesis – Light reaction – NADPH, ATP – Calvin Cycle – Sugar
(Out: Oxygen)
 Activity 3 Assessment
1. B
A. Understanding Glycolysis B. Let us go round and round 2. A
1. The term found in the diagram that denotes a process is GLYCOLYSIS. A. 2 E. 3 3. B
2. Glycolysis takes place in the cytoplasm of the cell. B. 1 F. 7
3. The raw material for Glycolysis is glucose or sugar. C. 5 G. 4 4. A
4. The products are pyruvate and ATP D. 6 5. D
6. C
C. Pump it out! 7. C
1. The electrons flow along the membrane and change to ATP.
2. NADH and FADH2 are high energy carriers that provides electron for the synthesis of ATP. 8. D
3. The final acceptor of electron in the ETC is oxygen. 9. B
4. When electrons (hydrogen) combine with the last acceptor (oxygen) it forms water molecules. 10. C

References:
Science 9 (Learner’s Module) Unit 1 Module 4, Ecosystem: Life Energy, pp. 88-102
Science 9 (Teacher’s Guide) Unit 1 Module 4, Ecosystem: Life Energy, pp. 71-98