13. Respiration

Respiration is the metabolic process by which an organism's living cells obtain energy (in the form of ATP) by taking in oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide from the oxidation of complex organic molecules such as glucose. As this process occurs at a cellular level, it is known as cellular respiration.
As it is a process where ATP is liberated by breaking down complex molecules, it is a catabolic process.

 

The process of cellular respiration takes place in the mitochondria of the cells. Hence they are known as the power houses of the cell.

 

Similar to respiration breathing is a defining characteristics of living organisms (only animals). Breathing is a physical process that serves as an important part of respiration. It involves the use of special respiratory organs such as lungs, windpipe and nose (absent in plants).

 

Thus breathing is a process that involves only the exchange of gases that are required for respiration and unlike respiration it does not involve the production of energy.

Plants, like animals and humans, can, breathe.

Plants need oxygen to breathe, but the process also produces carbon dioxide. Unlike humans and animals, plants lack specialised structures for gas exchange; however, they do have stomata (found in leaves), lenticels (found in stems) and root hairs (found in roots) that are actively involved in gas exchange. Compared to humans and animals, leaves, stems, and plant roots have a slow rate of respiration.

 

 

Thus, breathing differs from respiration. Animals and humans both breathe, which is a vital part of the process of respiration. Plants breathe throughout their lives because the plant cell requires energy to exist; however, plants breathe in a unique way known as cellular respiration.