Anoxygenic photosynthesis
Anoxygenic Photosynthesis
Anoxygenic photosynthesis (pronunciation: an-ox-y-gen-ic pho-to-syn-the-sis) is a process by which certain types of bacteria convert light energy into chemical energy, without the production of oxygen.
Etymology
The term "anoxygenic" is derived from the Greek prefix 'an-' meaning 'without', and the English word 'oxygen'. "Photosynthesis" is derived from the Greek 'photo-', meaning 'light', and 'synthesis', meaning 'putting together'.
Process
In Anoxygenic photosynthesis, bacteria use light energy to synthesize organic compounds but do not produce oxygen as a byproduct. Instead, these bacteria use substances such as hydrogen sulfide or organic matter as electron donors. This is in contrast to Oxygenic photosynthesis, where water is used as the electron donor and oxygen is produced as a byproduct.
Types of Bacteria
There are several types of bacteria that perform anoxygenic photosynthesis, including Purple bacteria, Green sulfur bacteria, and Green non-sulfur bacteria. These bacteria are often found in environments where light is available, but oxygen is scarce, such as deep lakes and hot springs.
Related Terms
- Phototroph: An organism that uses light as its primary energy source.
- Chlorophyll: A pigment used in photosynthesis to absorb light energy.
- Electron donor: A substance that donates electrons in a chemical reaction.
- Oxygenic photosynthesis: The process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods with the release of oxygen.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Anoxygenic photosynthesis
- Wikipedia's article - Anoxygenic photosynthesis
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