Photosynthesis and Cell Respiration

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to photosynthesis, specifically focusing on processes, components, and adaptations in plants.

Chlorophyll

A pigment in plants that absorbs and reflects light, allowing photosynthesis to occur.

Chloroplast

An organelle in plant cells where photosynthesis takes place.

Thylakoid membrane

The membrane within chloroplasts that contains the photosystems and is the site of the light reactions of photosynthesis.

Light reactions

The first stage of photosynthesis, which converts light energy into chemical energy in the form of ATP and NADPH.

Calvin cycle

The set of chemical reactions that take place in chloroplasts during photosynthesis, where carbon dioxide is converted into glucose.

Photorespiration

A process that occurs when oxygen is fixed instead of carbon dioxide, leading to reduced efficiency in photosynthesis.

Rubisco

The enzyme that catalyzes the fixation of carbon dioxide in the Calvin cycle.

NADPH

A reduced electron carrier produced in the light reactions of photosynthesis, used in the Calvin cycle to synthesize glucose.

ATP synthase

An enzyme that helps produce ATP during the light reactions of photosynthesis.

C4 photosynthesis

A photosynthetic pathway that separates carbon dioxide fixation and the Calvin cycle in different cells to increase efficiency.

CAM photosynthesis

A photosynthetic adaptation that allows plants to fix carbon dioxide at night and perform the Calvin cycle during the day, minimizing water loss.