Photosynthesis Lecture Review

This set of flashcards covers key terms, concepts, and processes related to photosynthesis as discussed in the lecture.

Photosynthesis

The process that converts solar energy into chemical energy.

Autotrophs

Organisms that sustain themselves without eating anything derived from other organisms.

Heterotrophs

Organisms that obtain their organic material from other organisms.

Chloroplasts

The sites of photosynthesis in plants, structurally similar to photosynthetic bacteria.

Stomata

Microscopic pores through which CO2 enters and O2 exits the leaf.

Thylakoids

Connected sacs in the chloroplast where chlorophyll is located, involved in photosynthesis.

Calvin Cycle

The synthesis stage of photosynthesis, also known as the dark reactions, occurring in the stroma.

Rubisco

The enzyme that incorporates CO2 into RuBP during the Calvin cycle.

NADPH

A high-energy electron carrier produced in the light reactions of photosynthesis.

Light Reactions

The phase of photosynthesis that splits H2O, releases O2, and generates ATP and NADPH.

Photophosphorylation

The process of generating ATP from ADP by adding a phosphate group using light energy.

Electromagnetic Radiation

Energy that travels as waves, including visible light which is crucial for photosynthesis.

Chlorophyll

The green pigment in chloroplasts that absorbs light energy for photosynthesis.

Photosystems

Chlorophyll-protein complexes in the thylakoid membranes that capture light energy for photosynthesis.

H+ Electrochemical Gradient

A gradient formed during the light reactions that drives ATP synthesis in chloroplasts.

Carotenoids

Pigments in plants that absorb light and reflect yellow, orange, and red wavelengths.

G3P (Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate)

A 3-carbon sugar that is an important product of the Calvin cycle.

Electron Transport Chain (ETC)

A series of molecules that transfer electrons and produce a H+ gradient for ATP synthesis.

Energy Conversion

The process of transforming light energy into chemical energy in the form of glucose during photosynthesis.