What are five processes or products in which either respiration or photosynthesis is controlled and used to benefit mankind?

Answer 1

1. In a controlled photosynthesis pond algae can be used to break down organic wastes.

2. Cultivating algae to produce biofuel.

3. Carbon dioxide mitigation through controlled photosynthesis.

4. Surgery for the treatment of gas gangrene is performed under conditions of hyperbaric oxygen because the organisms causing it are anaerobic. Antibiotics and oxygen combine to kill them more effectively than antibiotics alone because they live only in the absence of oxygen.

5. Polymixins are antibiotics that work by inhibiting bacterial respiration.

6. Other classes of drugs work by uncoupling oxidative phosphorylation in aerobic bacteria.

Answer 2

1. Bioremediation: Respiration is used by microorganisms to break down pollutants in soil or water, helping to clean up environmental contamination.
2. Biofuels: Photosynthesis is harnessed in plants to produce biofuels like ethanol and biodiesel, providing a renewable source of energy.
3. Food production: Photosynthesis in plants is essential for producing food crops that form the basis of the human diet.
4. Biodegradable materials: Respiration is used in composting processes to break down organic waste into nutrient-rich soil amendments.
5. Pharmaceutical industry: Photosynthesis-derived compounds are used in medicine production, providing natural sources for drug development.