Photosynthesis Overview

These flashcards cover key concepts and vocabulary related to the process of photosynthesis as gleaned from the lecture notes.

Photosynthesis

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

Chlorophyll

A green pigment in plants that is essential for photosynthesis, absorbing light energy primarily in the violet-blue and reddish-orange wavelengths.

Accessory pigments

Pigments such as chlorophyll b, xanthophylls, and carotenoids that assist chlorophyll a in capturing light energy.

Stomata

Tiny openings on the leaf surface that allow for gas exchange, letting carbon dioxide in and oxygen out.

Xylem vessels

Specialized plant cells that transport water from the roots to the leaves.

Thylakoid

The structural unit of photosynthesis in chloroplasts; flattened sacs/vesicles containing photosynthetic chemicals.

Grana

Stacks of thylakoids within the chloroplast.

Stroma

The fluid-filled space between thylakoids in the chloroplast, involved in the light-independent reactions.

Light-dependent reactions

The reactions of photosynthesis that require sunlight, producing ATP and NADPH.

Photophosphorylation

The process of generating ATP from ADP using light energy during the light-dependent reactions.

Photolysis

The splitting of water molecules during light-dependent reactions, producing oxygen, hydrogen ions, and electrons.

NADP+

The oxidized form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate that is reduced to NADPH during photosynthesis.

Chemiosmosis

The process by which ATP is produced in thylakoid membranes by the diffusion of protons across the membrane.

Cyclic phosphorylation

A process that produces additional ATP using only Photosystem I, without NADPH production.

Carbon fixation

The incorporation of carbon dioxide into organic compounds in the light-independent reactions.

Calvin cycle

A series of chemical reactions in the light-independent reactions that convert carbon dioxide into glucose.

Limiting factors

Factors such as light intensity, carbon dioxide concentration, and temperature that restrict the rate of photosynthesis.