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Introduction to biology
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- University Of Cape Town (UCT)
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PHOTOSYNTHESIS NOTESINTRODUCTION TO PHOTOSYNTHESIS
Photosynthesis is a fundamental biological process through which green plants, algae, and
certain bacteria convert light energy into chemical energy, specifically in the form of glucose.
This process is crucial for the sustenance of life on Earth as it forms the foundation of the
food chain. Through photosynthesis, plants not only produce food for themselves but also
release oxygen, which is essential for the respiration of most living organisms.
DEFINITION AND IMPORTANCE
Photosynthesis is the process by which photoautotrophic organisms, such as plants, algae,
and cyanobacteria, capture light energy from the sun and convert it into chemical energy
stored in glucose (C6H12O6). This process takes place in the chloroplasts of plant cells and
involves two main stages: the light-dependent reactions and the Calvin cycle.
Photosynthesis is vital for life on Earth as it provides the primary source of energy for nearly
all ecosystems and contributes to the oxygen supply in the atmosphere.
BASIC REQUIREMENTS
PHOTOSYNTHESIS REQUIRES THREE MAIN COMPONENTS :
- SUNLIGHT: The energy source for photosynthesis, captured by chlorophyll pigments in the
chloroplasts.
- WATER (H2O): Absorbed by plant roots from the soil, water is split into oxygen, protons,
and electrons during light-dependent reactions.
- CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2): Taken in from the atmosphere through stomata in the leaves,
CO2 is fixed into glucose during the Calvin cycle.
THE PHOTOSYNTHESIS EQUATION
The overall chemical equation for photosynthesis is:
\[ 6CO_2 + 6H_2O + light \, energy \rightarrow C_6H_{12}O_6 + 6O_2 \]
- 6CO2: Carbon dioxide molecules from the air.
- 6H2O: Water molecules absorbed by the plant's roots.
- LIGHT ENERGY: Energy from sunlight captured by chlorophyll.
- C6H12O6: Glucose, a sugar that stores CHEMICAL ENERGY.
- 6O2**: Oxygen, released as a by-product into the atmosphere.
CHLOROPLAST STRUCTURE
Chloroplasts are specialized organelles within plant cells where photosynthesis takes place.
They have a double membrane structure and contain stacks of thylakoids called grana. The
thylakoid membranes house chlorophyll, the pigment that captures light energy. The stroma,
the fluid-filled space surrounding the grana, is where the Calvin cycle occurs.
THE TWO STAGES OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS
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