Briefly describe the relationship between photosynthesis and respiration in terms of the reactants and products of each chemical reaction. Hypothesize why virtually every theory of mass extinctions on the planet such as the asteroid impact theory involve decreased sunlight as the source. In your explanation, briefly explain the asteroid impact theory. Give some thought to your study in chapter 1 of the levels of organization and how the elimination of plants would affect virtually every ecosystem on the planet, our biosphere.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
The Relationship between Photosynthesis and Respiration
Photosynthesis and respiration are two interconnected processes that occur in living organisms, particularly plants. Both processes involve the transformation of energy, but they occur in opposite directions and have different reactants and products.
Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants, algae, and some bacteria convert sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water into glucose and oxygen. The reactants of photosynthesis are:
Sunlight: It provides the energy needed for the process.
Carbon dioxide: It is absorbed from the atmosphere through tiny pores called stomata in the leaves.
Water: It is absorbed by the roots and transported to the leaves.
The products of photosynthesis are:
Glucose: It is a simple sugar molecule that serves as the primary energy source for plants.
Oxygen: It is released into the atmosphere as a byproduct of photosynthesis and is vital for the survival of many organisms.
Respiration
Respiration is the process by which living organisms release energy from glucose to fuel their cellular activities. The reactants of respiration are:
Glucose: It is obtained from the breakdown of carbohydrates in food.
Oxygen: It is absorbed from the atmosphere through respiration.
The products of respiration are:
Carbon dioxide: It is released as a waste product and is expelled from the body.
Water: It is also released as a waste product.
In summary, photosynthesis uses sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to produce glucose and oxygen, while respiration uses glucose and oxygen to produce carbon dioxide and water. These two processes are interconnected because the products of one process serve as the reactants for the other.
Decreased Sunlight and Mass Extinctions
Virtually every theory of mass extinctions on the planet, such as the asteroid impact theory, involves decreased sunlight as a source. This hypothesis can be understood by examining the effects of decreased sunlight on photosynthesis and its cascading consequences on ecosystems.
Asteroid Impact Theory
The asteroid impact theory suggests that mass extinctions occur when a large asteroid collides with the Earth’s surface. The impact of such an event would result in widespread destruction, including fires, tsunamis, and a massive release of dust and debris into the atmosphere. The dust and debris would block out sunlight, leading to a significant decrease in the amount of light reaching the Earth’s surface.
Impact on Photosynthesis
Decreased sunlight would have a profound impact on photosynthesis. Since photosynthesis relies on light energy, a reduction in sunlight would limit the ability of plants to carry out this essential process. As a result, there would be a decrease in the production of glucose and oxygen.
Cascading Effects on Ecosystems
The elimination of plants due to decreased photosynthesis would have far-reaching consequences for ecosystems across all levels of organization. Some potential effects include:
Disruption of Food Chains: Plants form the base of most food chains, providing energy to herbivores, which in turn become food for carnivores. The elimination of plants would disrupt these chains, leading to a collapse in ecosystem stability.
Loss of Habitat: Plants provide shelter and habitat for numerous organisms, including insects, birds, and mammals. Without plants, many species would lose their homes, leading to declines in biodiversity.
Changes in Atmospheric Composition: Photosynthesis is crucial for maintaining the balance of gases in the atmosphere. A decrease in photosynthesis would lead to increased carbon dioxide levels since plants absorb this gas during their metabolic processes. This imbalance could contribute to climate change.
Altered Nutrient Cycles: Plants play a vital role in nutrient cycling, absorbing nutrients from the soil and releasing them back through decomposition. The elimination of plants would disrupt these cycles, potentially leading to nutrient imbalances and further ecological disturbances.
In conclusion, decreased sunlight resulting from events like asteroid impacts can have severe consequences on photosynthesis, plant populations, and ecosystems as a whole. Understanding these relationships helps us appreciate the critical role that plants play in maintaining our biosphere and highlights the potential impacts of mass extinctions on Earth.
