Had a question from an ex-student who wanted some help with ATP and stuff. Here's what i sent them. Thought it might be not too bad for year twelve biology students also:
ATP and ADP are the two molecules involved in the use of energy by cells. ATP is often referred to as the energy currency of the cell.
Cells can use ATP where ever they need to expend energy particularly in processes such as active transport of materials through cell and organelle membranes.
ADP is Adenosine Diphosphate the low energy version of the energy carrier. During respiration in the mitochondrion it is "charged" with energy by having a third Phosphate group added to create ATP or Adenosine Triphosphate .
There are several stages in the metabolism (chemical reactions that occur in living things) of glucose. the first stage is called glycolysis (in the cytoplasm) followed by the krebs cycle and finally the electron transport chain (both in the mitochondrion).
The electron transport chain is the stage of respiration that generates the most number of ATP molcules per molecule of glucose entering the respiration process.
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Visit the wikipedia links and read just the first bits that tell you what things are, watch the videos twice
