6CO2+6H2O+Energy=C6H12O6+O2 

This chemical equation for photosynthesis is perhaps one of the most important chemical equations out there, as it is this peculiar combination of products & the subsequent reaction that led to the origins of Aerobic life on the planet. 

Earth was formed Approximately 4.5 billion years ago. At that point there was little or no freely available oxygen in gas with the only available gases being nitrogen, helium, hydrogen & methane. At this point only anaerobic life could grow & sustain on the planet which was mostly in the form of algae & bacteria. Of these anaerobic life forms one such life form was Cyanobacteria.Cyano means Blue. This is in reference to the bluish green tinge possessed by this bacteria owing to its chlorophyll. Cyanobacteria, a form of algae had special chlorophyll properties, which was particularly capable of trapping & using sunlight better than other algae. This sunlight when trapped reacted with the CO2 & H2O which were present in the algae. This is the product side of the equation for photosynthesis- 6CO2+6H2O+Energy. The reaction of the combination of these products was twofold. 1) Ready availability of glucose for cyanobacteria as an energy source for anaerobic respiration. 2) Production of O2 as a metabolic waste which was eventually released or discarded out by Cyanobacteria just like humans today expel CO2. 
Thus the reaction = C6H12O6+O2.  Now initially the level of O2 in the atmosphere was 10 mmHg. It was Something but certainly not sufficient to  birth & sustain aerobic life on the planet. But around 2 billion years ago, in the paleoproterozoic era,  there was a phenomenon known as 'The great oxidation' event where the O2 level reached 200 mmHg in the atmosphere. And this greatly supported the birth & the rise of aerobic creatures & eventually us humans on the planet. But this event also led to the extinction of many anaerobic animals on the planet for whom Oxygen was a deadly element.

In recent times, a specific variant of cyanobacteria known as proclorococcus has been discovered which is considered to be one of the major contributors of oxygen to the planet. And while there are other sources of breathable oxygen on the planet, Cyanobacteria & its proclorococcus variant are considered major contributors of Oxygen on the planet.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Secrets of Sushumna

The word Sushumna in Yoga is a really dynamic word. In Hatha yoga It means the naadi ranging from the mooladhara to Sahasrara. Though , quite possibly, the word Sushumna itself is a Sandhya bhasha terminology in Sanskrit. In the word Sushumna itself lies codified the secrets of Samadhi. Let us break the word Sushumna into three parts - 'Su' , 'Shu', 'Mna'. The 'Su' in Sushumna stands for that which is pleasant or indicative of Bliss. 'Shu' is the root word for  Shuchi or Shuddh indicating purity , wholeness (poornata) and clarity of perception. 'Mna' in its root means to intently Fix your mind upon something or anchor or mind to something...eg: breath, mantra. etc. So quite possibly, the word Sushumna here is indicative of the state of Laya / dissolution  of mind as a result of its fixation on the state of bliss arising internally and also the clarity of perception and sensitivity in the presence of which the ordinary limited mind is diss...
Read more

The Science of Khechari & Bindu.

*The science of Khechari & Bindu (Dimethyltriptamine/DMT).*  In Hatha yoga, it is specifically said that the Bindu released from the pineal gland when dropped into the Jatharagni is destroyed. And hence by the use of Khechari mudra it is caught on the tongue and absorbed by the capillaries of the tongue. Now , let us explore what this Bindu possibly is and why catching it on the tip of the tongue is more effective than letting it digest via stomach. So , as per Master Mantak Chia, under certain processes,  once the body has created a built up of 15-20 mg of melatonin, the next chemical released is pinoline. Once pinoline too has built up to a certain level, the next hormone released is 5MEO & Dimethyl tryptamine (DMT). This DMT is a bliss producing chemical. And , as per some viewpoints, possibly also the mystical nectarine chemical , known as Bindu. Now there are some chemicals like LSD & DMT which apparently become less effective or are destroyed when they fall i...
Read more

Lung Volumes & Lung Capacity.

Image
[9/1, 20:20] pillairohit1991: One good way to remember this: Take a deep breath in upto your maximum capacity. Now there is approximately 6 litres of air in your lungs. That is your Total lung capacity.  Now breathe out as deep as you can. You just breathed out 4800 mls of air. That is your vital Capacity.  But even after breathing out completely, 1200 mls of air is still reserve in your lungs. That is your residual volume.  Now breathe normally. In your normal breathing, approximately 500 mls of air is going in and out. That is your tidal volume.  Now breathe normally like in tidal Volume. Now after a normal tidal volume inhalation happens breathe in effortfully to your maximum capacity. You just breathed in 3200 mls of air over your tidal volume. That is your Inspiratory Reserve Volume.  So basically your Tidal Volume was already 500 mls. On the top of that you further breathed in 3200 mls. So that becomes a total of 3700 mls which is your actual Inspiratory c...
Read more