How is tricalcium phosphate rock transformed to animal and human food? What kind of food is that then?

Question

What transformation process is involved in layman's terms?

Answer 1

Phosphate from apatite (Ca3(PO4)2) is often picked up by plants where it becomes available to humans when the plant or animal that has consumed it is eaten by humans. Phosphate occurs in the nucleotides (sugar-phosphate-organic base) and in DNA, RNA and cell membranes. This phosphate is then passed to humans who use it in the same groups of compounds. The phospholipids are used in making cell membranes, endoplasmic reticulum, RNA, DNA, ATP, CTP and a host of other chemicals. Phosphate is also used in the blood stream as buffers in the form of monosodium and disodium phosphate mainly. It is also used in the breakdown of glucose by a process called phosphorylation. The glucose molecule then undergoes oxidative processes involving the formation of ATP.

Answer 2

The first poster is correct but I wanted to add that your teeth and bones are basically apatite, Ca3(PO4)2. So a growing body needs Calcium phosphate. It also needs vitamin D to absorb the calcium.