Photosynthesis and Energy in Living Organisms

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to photosynthesis and energy in living organisms, based on lecture notes.

Autotrophs

Organisms that can create their own glucose (food).

Heterotrophs

Organisms that consume other organisms for food (glucose).

Photosynthesis

The process by which solar energy is used to convert carbon dioxide into high energy sugar molecules.

Chlorophyll

The most common pigment found in photosynthetic plants that absorbs light.

Granum

A stack of thylakoid disks in the chloroplast.

Thylakoid

Membranes that form disks in chloroplasts, which contain pigments.

Light Dependent Reaction

The process that uses solar energy to produce ATP and NADPH.

Calvin Cycle

The light-independent process that uses ATP and NADPH to fix carbon dioxide into glucose.

Rubisco

An enzyme that facilitates the fixation of carbon dioxide during the Calvin Cycle.