Nutrition in Plants and Protists

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms related to the topic of photosynthesis and its associated processes, helping with understanding the fundamental concepts in Unit 12 on Nutrition in Plants and Protists.

Photosynthesis

The process by which certain organisms use energy from sunlight to synthesize food.

Autotrophic Organisms

Organisms that can synthesize their own food.

Heterotrophic Organisms

Organisms that must obtain food from the environment.

By-product of Photosynthesis

Oxygen, which is necessary for cell respiration by most living organisms.

Cellular Respiration

The process in which glucose is broken down in the presence of oxygen, producing carbon dioxide and water.

Electromagnetic Energy

Energy in the form of waves, which includes light.

Photons

Units of energy transmitted by light.

Wavelength

The distance between successive peaks of a wave, which determines the energy of light.

Chlorophyll

The most important pigment in photosynthesis, which absorbs light energy.

Grana

Stacked disks of chlorophyll-containing structures within chloroplasts.

Stroma

The fluid that fills the remaining space in a chloroplast.

Light Intensity

The amount of light energy that can affect the rate of photosynthesis.

Calvin Cycle

The process in which carbohydrates are formed from carbon dioxide.

Thylakoids

Membrane-bound compartments inside chloroplasts where photosynthesis takes place.

Pigments

Materials that absorb specific wavelengths of light, like chlorophyll.

Photosystems

Light-collecting units of the chloroplast.