Scientists measure the rates of biochemical processes by monitoring either substrate depletion or product generation. Considering this, what substrates or products might you monitor to determine the rate of photosynthesis? Of cellular respiration?

In autotrophs such as algae, pathways occur within the same cell. Algae beads which contain eukaryotic microalgae (Scenedesmus obliquus) encapsulated in alginate are used to measure rates of photosynthesis and cellular respiration under light and dark conditions. The beads are incubated in co2 indicator solution to form carbonic acid.