Photosynthesis

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to photosynthesis, including definitions of important terms and processes.

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants, some bacteria and protistans use sunlight energy to produce glucose from carbon dioxide and water.

Chlorophyll

A green pigment that captures sunlight for photosynthesis, essential for the conversion of light energy into chemical energy.

ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)

A molecule that carries energy within cells, produced during cellular respiration and photosynthesis.

Stomata

Small openings on the leaf surface that allow gases to enter and leave, including carbon dioxide and oxygen.

Xylem

The specialized plant tissue that transports water from the roots to the leaves.

Light-dependent reactions

The first stage of photosynthesis where light energy is captured and converted into ATP and NADPH.

Light-independent reactions (Calvin Cycle)

The stage of photosynthesis where ATP and NADPH are used to convert carbon dioxide into glucose.

Photolysis

The process of splitting water molecules in photosynthesis, releasing oxygen.

Photosystem

A complex of proteins and pigments in chloroplasts that play a crucial role in the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis.

Chemiosmosis

The movement of ions across a selectively permeable membrane, used in ATP synthesis during photosynthesis.

Cyclic phosphorylation

A process in photosynthesis that generates ATP without converting NADP+, involving only Photosystem I.

Carbon fixation

The process of converting inorganic carbon dioxide into organic compounds during photosynthesis.

RuBP (Ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate)

A five-carbon sugar that combines with carbon dioxide during the Calvin Cycle to initiate carbohydrate synthesis.

Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate (GALP)

A three-carbon sugar produced during the light-independent reactions, used to synthesize glucose and other organic compounds.

Limiting factors

Conditions that limit the rate of photosynthesis, including light intensity, carbon dioxide concentration, and temperature.

NADPH

The reduced form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, a carrier molecule that provides reducing power for the synthesis of carbohydrates in the Calvin Cycle.

Thylakoid

The membrane-bound compartment inside chloroplasts where the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis occur.