Why Is Glucose So Important To All Living Organisms?

The Importance Of Glucose

Every cell of the human body requires energy to perform the metabolic functions that sustain life. Glucose is a small, simple sugar that serves as a primary fuel for energy production, especially for the brain, muscles and several other body organs and tissues. Glucose also serves as a building block for larger structural molecules of the body, such as glycoproteins and glycolipids. The human body tightly regulates glucose levels. Abnormally high or low levels result in serious, potentially life-threatening complications. Video of the Day The brain normally relies almost exclusively on glucose to fuel its energy needs. Because of its high energy demands and inability to store glucose, the brain requires a constant supply of the sugar. The body possesses multiple mechanisms to prevent a significant drop in blood glucose, or hypoglycemia. Should such a drop occur, however, brain functions can begin to fail. Common brain-related symptoms of hypoglycemia include headache, dizziness, confusion, lack of concentration, anxiety, irritability, restlessness, slurred speech and poor coordination. A sudden, severe drop on blood glucose can lead to seizures and coma. The skeletal muscles normally constitute approximately 30 to 40 percent of total body weight, although this varies based on sex, age and fitness level. The skeletal muscles utilize large amounts of glucose during exercise. Unlike the brain, the skeletal muscles store blood sugar in the form of glycogen, which is quickly broken down to supply glucose during physical exertion. Muscle tissue also normally absorbs large amounts of glucose from the bloodstream during exercise. Although skeletal muscles can utilize fat-derived molecules for energy production, depletion of glucose stores during prolonged exercise can lead to s Continue reading >>

Glucose

Glucose, also called dextrose, one of a group of carbohydrates known as simple sugars (monosaccharides). Glucose (from Greek glykys; “sweet”) has the molecular formula C6H12O6. It is found in fruits and honey and is the major free sugar circulating in the blood of higher animals. It is the source of energy in cell function, and the regulation of its metabolism is of great importance (see fermentation; gluconeogenesis). Molecules of starch, the major energy-reserve carbohydrate of plants, consist of thousands of linear glucose units. Another major compound composed of glucose is cellulose, which is also linear. Dextrose is the molecule d-glucose. A related molecule in animals is glycogen, the reserve carbohydrate in most vertebrate and invertebrate animal cells, as well as those of numerous fungi and protozoans. See also polysaccharide. Continue reading >>

Why Is Cellular Respiration Necessary?

Answered Jul 7, 2016 Author has 122 answers and 173.6k answer views I really tried my best maybe it will help u Cellular Respiration, process in which cells produce the energy they need to survive. In cellular respiration, cells use oxygen to break down the sugar glucose and store its energy in molecules of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Cellular respiration is critical for the survival of most organisms because the energy in glucose cannot be used by cells until it is stored in ATP. Cells use ATP to power virtually all of their activitiesto grow, divide, replace worn out cell parts, and execute many other tasks. Cellular respiration provides the energy required for an amoeba to glide toward food, the Venus fly trap to capture its prey, or the ballet dancer to execute stunning leaps. Cellular respiration occurs within a cell constantly, day and night, and if it ceases, the celland ultimately the organismdies. Two critical ingredients required for cellular respiration are glucose and oxygen. The glucose used in cellular respiration enters cells in a variety of ways. Plants, algae, and certain bacteria make their own glucose through photosynthesis, the process by which plants use light to convert carbon dioxide and water into sugar. Animals obtain glucose by eating plants, and fungi and bacteria absorb glucose as they break down the tissues of plants and animals. Regardless of how they obtain it, cells must have a steady supply of glucose so that ATP production is continuous. Cellular respiration is one of the most important metabolic pathways found in cells. This enzyme-assisted, step-by-step process not only protects the cell from lethal temperature increases but also provides the cell with a mechanism of transferring the energy of glucose to ATP in a controlled manner. Continue reading >>

Energy And Life: The Transformation Of Energy In Living Organisms

Energy and Life: The Transformation of Energy in Living Organisms Watch short & fun videos Start Your Free Trial Today An error occurred trying to load this video. Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. You must create an account to continue watching Start Your Free Trial To Continue Watching As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 70,000 lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you succeed. Coming up next: Speed and Velocity: Concepts and Formulas Log in or sign up to add this lesson to a Custom Course. Custom Courses are courses that you create from Study.com lessons. Use them just like other courses to track progress, access quizzes and exams, and share content. Organize and share selected lessons with your class. Make planning easier by creating your own custom course. Create a new course from any lesson page or your dashboard. Click "Add to" located below the video player and follow the prompts to name your course and save your lesson. Click on the "Custom Courses" tab, then click "Create course". Next, go to any lesson page and begin adding lessons. Edit your Custom Course directly from your dashboard. Name your Custom Course and add an optional description or learning objective. Create chapters to group lesson within your course. Remove and reorder chapters and lessons at any time. Share your Custom Course or assign lessons and chapters. Share or assign lessons and chapters by clicking the "Teacher" tab on the lesson or chapter page you want to assign. Students' quiz scores and video views will be trackable in your "Teacher" tab. You can share your Custom Course by copying and pasting the course URL. Only Study.com members will be able to access the ent Continue reading >>

What Is The Function Of Monosaccharide In Biology?

A monosaccharide, most often called a simple sugar, is the simplest form of carbohydrate. Monosaccharides all have the same basic structure, symbolized with the chemical formula (CH2O)n, in which “n” stands for the number of carbon atoms. These molecules tend to have isomers, meaning they have the same formula but different structures. These assorted structures carry out a variety of biological functions in living cells, whether they're from single-celled bacteria or multicellular plants and animals. Biological Forms of Monosaccharides Monosaccharides are characterized by the number of carbon atoms their molecules contain. Monosaccharides with the formula C6H12O6 include glucose, galactose and fructose, which are sugars used by organisms for energy. Xylose is a five-carbon monosaccharide, called a pentose, found in plant cells; this monosaccharide combines with xylan to form woody materials, such as those that make up trees. Similarly, arabinose is found in coniferous trees. Ribose and deoxyribose are components of ribonucleic and deoxyribonucleic acids, commonly known as RNA and DNA. Fuel for Metabolism One major function of a monosaccharide is its use for energy within a living organism. Glucose is a commonly known carbohydrate that is metabolized within cells to create fuel. In the presence of oxygen, glucose breaks down into carbon dioxide and water, and energy is released as a byproduct. Glucose is a product of photosynthesis, and plants obtain energy from glucose through respiration. Humans acquire glucose from food, and the body transforms this monosaccharide into energy. Building Blocks Monosaccharides are also the foundation for more complex carbohydrates, or they serve as components to amino acids. The ribose and deoxyribose monosaccharides are vital eleme Continue reading >>

Why Is It That Glucose Is Preferred As The Prime Energy Source?

1) Since all carbohydrates share certain structural features in common they are likely to also share certain metabolic steps. Strings of such steps are usually referred to as metabolic pathways. These would generally be most employed for the energy extraction from the most readily available substrate. The metabolism of other similar substrates would employ some portions of the same pathways with the aid of specialized 'adapter' steps. Doing so conserves cellular resources. 2) Mammals generally store carbohydrate energy in the form of glycogen, and most tissues are generally primed to channel resources either for energy storage or energy utilization from stores, in response to hormonal signals. Most cells constitutively express receptors for glucose, and certain organs are almost wholly dependent on it for energy. 3) While other carbohydrate forms may also be used in most tissues, the necessary receptors are at least to some extent inducible. This helps conserve resources. 4) What the above reasoning leads us to is the following conclusion: A preferred substrate is employed in order to conserve resources. One could still argue: but why glucose? Would this kind of question be resolved if the preferred molecule was different? Continue reading >>

Glucose | Alimentarium

Glucose is one of the fundamental molecules of life on Earth, the product of photosynthesis of solar energy stored in plants. Glucose is found either as a simple monosaccharide or as a constitutive unit of more complex molecules such as starch and the cellulose in fruit and vegetables, or glycogen in humans and animals. At the crossroads of energy metabolism, glucose can be considered to be the source of energy for our cells. Shutterstock / Krystyna Taran - Glucose syrup Glucose belongs to the family of carbohydrates. It is a monosaccharide (simple sugar) naturally present in all living beings on Earth and is their most important source of energy. It is found in high quantities in fruit (including berries), vegetables and honey. When combined with other monosaccharides, such as fructose, it forms sucrose (table sugar) and lactose. Two glucose molecules form maltose, a disaccharide resulting from the hydrolysis of cereal starch. Maltose has slightly less sweetening power than sucrose. Athletes use it for a quick supply of energy, whereas in bakeries it is useful for the fermentation of leavened dough. Maltose is also found in the germinated cereal grains used to make many types of beer . Starch consists of a large number of glucose molecules linked to each other in long chains. Cellulose is a polysaccharide made up of complex chains of starch. Unlike herbivorous mammals, the human body is unable to digest cellulose, so it serves as roughage in our diet. Glucose, a basic organic molecule, is synthesised by living beings capable of gluconeogenesis (animals) or photosynthesis (green plants, algae, some species of bacteria). Photosynthesis is a complex enzyme reaction making use of energy from sunlight, carbon dioxide(CO2) and water(H2O, sulphur bacteria use hydrogen sulphi Continue reading >>

Energy And Metabolism

The Role of Energy and Metabolism All organisms require energy to complete tasks; metabolism is the set of the chemical reactions that release energy for cellular processes. Learning Objectives Explain the importance of metabolism Key Takeaways All living organisms need energy to grow and reproduce, maintain their structures, and respond to their environments; metabolism is the set of the processes that makes energy available for cellular processes. Metabolism is a combination of chemical reactions that are spontaneous and release energy and chemical reactions that are non-spontaneous and require energy in order to proceed. Living organisms must take in energy via food, nutrients, or sunlight in order to carry out cellular processes. The transport, synthesis, and breakdown of nutrients and molecules in a cell require the use of energy. metabolism: the complete set of chemical reactions that occur in living cells bioenergetics: the study of the energy transformations that take place in living organisms energy: the capacity to do work Energy and Metabolism All living organisms need energy to grow and reproduce, maintain their structures, and respond to their environments. Metabolism is the set of life-sustaining chemical processes that enables organisms transform the chemical energy stored in molecules into energy that can be used for cellular processes. Animals consume food to replenish energy; their metabolism breaks down the carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids to provide chemical energy for these processes. Plants convert light energy from the sun into chemical energy stored in molecules during the process of photosynthesis. Bioenergetics and Chemical Reactions Scientists use the term bioenergetics to discuss the concept of energy flow through living sys Continue reading >>

Glucose

Glucose is a carbohydrate, and is the most important simple sugar in human metabolism. Glucose is called a simple sugar or a monosaccharide because it is one of the smallest units which has the characteristics of this class of carbohydrates. Glucose is also sometimes called dextrose. Corn syrup is primarily glucose. Glucose is one of the primary molecules which serve as energy sources for plants and animals. It is found in the sap of plants, and is found in the human bloodstream where it is referred to as "blood sugar". The normal concentration of glucose in the blood is about 0.1%, but it becomes much higher in persons suffering from diabetes. When oxidized in the body in the process called metabolism, glucose produces carbon dioxide, water, and some nitrogen compounds and in the process provides energy which can be used by the cells. The energy yield is about 686 kilocalories (2870 kilojoules) per mole which can be used to do work or help keep the body warm. This energy figure is the change in Gibbs free energy ΔG in the reaction, the measure of the maximum amount of work obtainable from the reaction. As a primary energy source in the body, it requires no digestion and is often provided intravenously to persons in hospitals as a nutrient. Energy from glucose is obtained from the oxidation reaction C6H12O6 + 6O2 --> 6CO2 + 6H2O where a mole of glucose (about 180 grams) reacts with six moles of O2 with an energy yield ΔG = 2870 kJ. The six moles of oxygen at STP would occupy 6 x 22.4L = 134 liters. The energy yield from glucose is often stated as the yield per liter of oxygen, which would be 5.1 kcal per liter or 21.4 kJ per liter. This energy yield could be measured by actually burning the glucose and measuring the energy liberated in a calorimeter. But in living org Continue reading >>

Why Is Lactic Acid Fermentation Useful In Living Organisms?

Why is lactic acid fermentation useful in living organisms? Lactic acid fermentation is useful in anaerobic bacteria because they can convert glucose to two ATP molecules, which is the "energy currency"cells use to carry out their life processes. Thewaste productof fermentation is lactic acid. This is the substance that can turn milk into cheese or yogurt by bacterial action, or to turn cabbage into sauerkraut. A benefit of this process is the various food industries that rely on "aged" foods that are produced via... Lactic acid fermentation is useful in anaerobic bacteria because they can convert glucose to two ATP molecules, which is the "energy currency"cells use to carry out their life processes. Thewaste productof fermentation is lactic acid. This is the substance that can turn milk into cheese or yogurt by bacterial action, or to turn cabbage into sauerkraut. A benefit of this process is the various food industries that rely on "aged" foods that are produced via fermentation. In humans and other animals,the muscles store excess glucose as glycogen until needed. During very strenuous activity, if aerobic respiration, which supplies 36 molecules of ATP for every glucose oxidized, cannot keep up, the stored glycogen in the muscles is converted back to glucose and fermentation occurs in the muscles. Although this process produces only 2 ATP per glucose, it supplies extra energy to muscles. However, the waste lactic acid can build up in the muscles, causing cramps. Therefore, it is important to not stop directly after exercising, rather, it is better to do a cool down or a walk, to give the lactic acid time to be transported to the liver where it is converted to pyruvate. Lactic acid fermentation is a process used by organisms to extract energy from glucose in conditi Continue reading >>

The Role Of Carbohydrates In Living Organisms

The Role of Carbohydrates in Living Organisms The Role of Carbohydrates in Living Organisms Carbohydrates are composed of the elements carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. The general formula is Cx(H2O)y. There are many different types of carbohydrates present in living organisms, each playing an important role in maintaining life of organisms. Monosaccharides are a group of carbohydrates, which include simple sugars such as glucose, fructose and galactose. Monosaccharides are classified according to the number of carbon atoms they possess. Trioses such as glyceraldehyde, and dihydroxyacetone contain three carbon atoms. The phosphorylated form of glyceraldehyde is the first formed sugar in photosynthesis, and may (like dihydroxyacetone) be used as respiratory substrate, or is converted to starch for storage. ...read more. Galactose, mannose and fructose are three principal respiratory substrates in organisms. Additionally, Galactose is central in the synthesis of lactose. Fructose is also involved in the synthesis of insulin, and it sweetens fruits to attract animals in order to assist in seed dispersal. When two monosaccharides are joined together they form a disaccharide for instance, sucrose is formed in the joining of glucose and fructose, lactose in the amalgamation of glucose and galactose, and maltose in the bonding of two glucose molecules. These three respiratory substrates are the primary disaccharides in living organisms. Sucrose is vital in plants as it is the form in which most carbohydrates are transported in the phloem. ...read more. It consists of long chains of glucose residues. Hydroxyl groups project outwards from hydrogen bonds with hydroxyl groups of adjacent chains to give the whole structure a high tensile strength. Cellulose is fully permeable to water Continue reading >>

Bbc - Standard Grade Bitesize Biology - Enzymes And Aerobic Respiration : Revision, Page 6

Cells need energy for various purposes, e.g.: cell division, movement, maintaining body temperature, building large molecules (synthesis). Food is the source of chemical energy for most living things. Fats contain more than twice as much energy per gram as either carbohydrates or proteins (which both contain about the same as each other). Cells need oxygen to release energy from food. This process is called aerobic respiration. We can describe what happens by using a word equation. Glucose + Oxygen Energy + Carbon Dioxide + Water Carbon dioxide [carbon dioxide: A gaseous compound of carbon and oxygen, which is a by-product of respiration, and which is needed by plants for photosynthesis.] is a waste product of respiration and is formed from carbon and oxygen which were originally part of the food molecules. Heat energy may be released from cells during respiration. Metabolism [metabolism: the sum of all chemical processes taking place in our cells, and the rate at which these proceed] is a word for all the chemical reactions in a living organism. The energy released from food by respiration is important to the metabolism of all cells. This video shows a laboratory demonstration of the reaction involved in aerobic respiration, but on a faster and more spectacular scale than in the cells in your body. Continue reading >>

Glucose

Because Glucose is the unit from which starch, cellulose and glycogen are made up, and because of its special role in biological processes, there are probably more glucose groups in Nature than any other organic group. It is extremely important in Nature as one of the main energy sources for living organisms, both in plants and animals. Glucose was first isolated in 1747 from raisins by Andreas Marggraf. The name glucose was coined in 1838 by Jean Dumas, from the greek glycos, sugar or sweet), and the structure was discovered by Emil Fischer around the turn of the century. In fact, there are 2 forms of glucose, the dextrose). In fact, the full name for common glucose is D-(+)-glucose, and its chemically correct name (using the IUPAC systematic naming system for organic molecules) is (2R,3S,4R,5R)-2,3,4,5,6-pentahydroxyhexanol! Glucose can be thought of as a derivative of hexane (a 6-carbon chain) with -OH groups attached to every carbon except the endmost one, which exists as an aldehyde carbonyl. However because the chain is flexible it can wrap around until the 2 ends react together to form a ring structure. Thus a solution of glucose can be thought of as a rapidly changing mixture of rings and chains, continually interconverting between the 2 forms. Glucose is a ready source of energy, since its carbon atoms are easily oxidised (burnt) to form carbon dioxide, releasing energy in the process. However, unlike other hydrocarbon fuels, which are insoluble in water, the numerous OH groups in glucose allow it to readily hydrogen-bond with water molecules, so making it highly soluble in water. This allows the glucose fuel to be transported easily within biological systems, for example in the bloodstream of animals or the sap of plants. In fact the average adult has 5-6 gra Continue reading >>

What Is The Energy Source For Most Living Things?

What Is the Energy Source For Most Living Things? Although the organisms on the earth who require energy are diverse, they truly all rely on one big source: the sun. Sunlight is vital to the process of photosynthesis performed by plants which supplies oxygen and glucose needed for the survival of all living beings on the Earth. Living things are organisms which exhibit characteristics of life. These features include the abilities to grow, reproduce, move, metabolize, respire, respond to stimuli, and adapt to the environment. For an organism to be recognized as a living thing, it must take in energy and use it to sustain life. Energy is thus critical for the survival of living organisms. Bacteria, animals, human beings, plants, and fungi are some examples of living things. The sun is the source of energy in a given ecosystem. Solar energy is captured by plants to fuel the process of photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the process of transforming of carbon dioxide and water to glucose and oxygen. An amount of the energy used to drive this process is stored in the glucose molecules. Organisms, in turn, feed on plants and break down the glucose to release the stored energy. The released energy is utilized by the cells in making the chemical adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in a process of cellular respiration. Since energy is released during the process, it is an exothermic type of reaction. The cells break down the glucose to its original elements, which are carbon dioxide and water. Cellular respiration is, therefore, the opposite of photosynthesis. ATP is the energy currency for cells meaning it fuels the cells to carry out their work. The carbon dioxide released travels through the bloodstream of human beings and animals, and it is exhaled through lungs or gills. Plants expe Continue reading >>

Carbohydrates | Basic Biology

Thedifferences between monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides Carbohydrates are one of the four main categories of molecules found in living things the other three being proteins , lipids and nucleic acids . They are vital for life on Earth and perform a range of functions such as providing energy, structural support and cellular communication. A carbohydrate is either a sugar or a polymer of sugars. A polymer is two or more simple sugars joined together. Carbohydratesare carbon based molecules with hydrogen and oxygen bonded to a chain of carbon atoms. A simple sugar is known as a monosaccharide. Monosaccharides can bond together to form disaccharides and polysaccharides. These are the three different types of carbohydrates and all three are important for different purposes in the natural world. All life on Earth requires carbohydrates. They have found their way into the lives of not only animals and plants but also fungi , bacteria , archaea and protists . The most important role of carbohydrates is as a source of energy. The chemical energy in sugars is the main source of energy for most living things. Plants use the suns energy and CO to create carbohydrates. These carbohydratesform the foundations of almost all ecosystems on Earth. Using carbohydrates for energy prevents proteins being used for energy. This is important because it allows proteins to be used for other purposes such as metabolism and muscle contraction. Some of the more complex carbohydrates provide structural support and protection. Plant and fungal cells have cell walls made from carbohydrates. These cell walls provide protection and support for the cell and the whole organism. Carbohydrates are also involved in cell-cell recognition. Cells have carbohydrates on the external surface of Continue reading >>