Photosynthesis Lecture Notes

These flashcards cover key terms and definitions related to photosynthesis as outlined in the lecture notes.

Photosynthesis

The process of using sunlight to manufacture carbohydrates.

Autotrophs

Organisms that produce their own food, such as plants.

Heterotrophs

Organisms that obtain energy by consuming other organisms.

Chloroplasts

Organelles in plant cells where photosynthesis occurs.

Thylakoids

Membrane-bound structures within chloroplasts that house the photosystems.

Chlorophyll

A pigment in thylakoids that absorbs light, reflecting green.

Pigments

Molecules that absorb certain wavelengths of light; examples include chlorophylls and carotenoids.

Electromagnetic Spectrum

The range of all types of electromagnetic radiation, including visible light.

Action Spectrum

A graph that shows the rate of photosynthesis at different wavelengths of light.

Excited State

A high-energy state of an electron after it absorbs energy from light.

Photosystems

Complexes of chlorophyll and proteins that capture and transfer energy in the light reactions.

ATP Synthase

An enzyme that synthesizes ATP using the energy stored in a proton gradient.

Proton Gradient

A difference in proton concentration across the thylakoid membrane that drives ATP production.

Oxygenic Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis that produces oxygen as a by-product by splitting water molecules.

NADP+

An electron carrier that is reduced to NADPH during photosynthesis.

Cyclic Electron Flow

A process during photosynthesis where electrons are recycled to increase ATP production.

Linear Electron Flow

The flow of electrons from water to NADP+ in a noncyclic manner during the light reactions.

Enhancement Effect

The increased rate of photosynthesis observed when both red and far-red light are present.

Resonance Energy Transfer

The process by which energy absorbed by pigments is passed to nearby chlorophyll.

Photophosphorylation

The process of ATP formation using light energy.

Carotenoids

Accessory pigments that absorb light waves not absorbed by chlorophyll and appear yellow, orange, or red.