Back to: Botany 100 Level
Hello, my brilliant Afrilearn scholar! Imagine two people: one is a farmer who grows their own food, while the other is a trader who buys and sells food. Even though their lifestyles are different, both need energy to work, eat, and survive. Similarly, plants and animals have different ways of getting and using energy, but their basic metabolic processes share some similarities.
Today, we’ll look at the similarities and differences in metabolic processes between plants and animals. Let’s begin!
Similarities And Differences In Metabolic Processes
What Are Metabolic Processes?
Metabolism refers to all the chemical reactions in a living organism that help it stay alive. These reactions are divided into two main types:
Anabolism – Building up complex molecules (e.g., photosynthesis in plants).
Catabolism – Breaking down molecules to release energy (e.g., respiration in both plants and animals).
Both plants and animals carry out metabolism, but they do it in different ways.
Similarities in Metabolic Processes
Despite their differences, plants and animals share some basic metabolic functions:
Cellular Respiration (Energy Production)
Both plants and animals break down glucose to release energy (ATP) through cellular respiration.
This happens in the mitochondria and follows the same general equation: C6H12O6+6O2→6CO2+6H2O+ATPC_6H_{12}O_6 + 6O_2 → 6CO_2 + 6H_2O + ATP
Protein Synthesis
Both plants and animals produce proteins needed for growth, repair, and other functions.
They use the ribosomes and DNA in the nucleus to make proteins from amino acids.
Enzyme Activity
Both rely on enzymes to speed up metabolic reactions.
For example, amylase breaks down starch in both plant seeds and animal digestion.
Excretion of Waste
Both release carbon dioxide (CO₂) as a waste product of respiration.
Both remove harmful substances through different excretory processes.
Key Differences in Metabolic Processes
Despite these similarities, there are major differences in how plants and animals get and use energy.
Feature
Plants
Animals
Energy Source
Autotrophic (produce their own food via photosynthesis)
Heterotrophic (must consume food for energy)
Food Production
Carry out photosynthesis to make glucose
Cannot make their own food; must eat plants or animals
Storage of Energy
Store energy as starch
Store energy as glycogen
Gas Exchange
Take in CO₂ and release O₂ during photosynthesis
Take in O₂ and release CO₂ during respiration
Nitrogen Metabolism
Can absorb nitrogen from the soil to make proteins
Must consume protein-rich food to get nitrogen
Waste Removal
Release oxygen, excess water, and some organic compounds
Excrete urea, carbon dioxide, and other metabolic waste
Why Do These Differences Matter?
Plants can survive without eating because they make their own food, but animals depend on plants and other animals for energy.
Plants store energy in starch, which is good for long-term storage, while animals store energy in glycogen, which is quickly available for movement and activity.
Plants help maintain balance in the ecosystem by absorbing CO₂ and releasing O₂, which animals need for survival.
Both plants and animals depend on each other: plants provide food and oxygen, while animals provide carbon dioxide for photosynthesis.
Summary
Both plants and animals carry out cellular respiration, protein synthesis, enzyme activity, and waste excretion.
Plants make their own food (photosynthesis), while animals must eat food.
Plants store energy as starch; animals store energy as glycogen.
Plants absorb nitrogen from the soil; animals get nitrogen from food.
Plants and animals depend on each other for survival.
Evaluation Activities
- What is the main difference between anabolism and catabolism?
- How do both plants and animals release energy?
- Why do plants store energy as starch while animals store it as glycogen?
- Why do animals depend on plants for survival?
- What role does nitrogen metabolism play in plants and animals?
You are doing an amazing job! Now you understand how plants and animals manage their energy differently. Keep learning, and see you in the next lesson!
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