ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at complementary processes, one of which is the metabolism of carbohydrates. As in the case of photosynthesis, the details of the metabolism of carbohydrates are complex. Valuable insight into metabolism and physiology is gained from knowledge of carbon dioxide levels in the blood. Anxiety can sometimes bring about a condition known as “hyperventilation,” involving rapid shallow breathing resulting in carbon dioxide being released from the blood faster than its pH can be physiologically maintained at the buffer value 7.4. Burial of carbon dioxide derivatives prevents some respiration and enables the build-up of oxygen. Carbon dioxide was ordinarily removed from the module’s air by lithium hydroxide canisters. Photorespiration is a drain on the plant’s efficiency, taking place about a third of the time in place of photosynthesis: carbon dioxide incorporation leading to sugar. As atmospheric O2 amounts rise due to photosynthesis, the competition with the photorespiration pathway becomes tighter.
