Photosynthesis and Plant Biology

These flashcards cover the key terms and concepts related to photosynthesis and plant biology as discussed in the lecture notes.

Autotroph

An organism that produces its own food from inorganic substances; known as a 'self-feeder'.

Heterotroph

An organism that cannot make its own food and must rely on other sources for energy.

Photoautotroph

Organisms that carry out photosynthesis to convert light energy into chemical energy.

Photosynthesis Equation

The formula representing photosynthesis: 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + sunlight → C6H12O6 + 6O₂.

Light Reactions

The first stage of photosynthesis that converts sunlight to chemical energy in the form of ATP and NADPH.

Calvin Cycle

The second stage of photosynthesis that uses ATP and NADPH to convert CO₂ into glucose.

Thylakoid Membrane

The internal membrane of chloroplasts where the light reactions of photosynthesis take place.

Chlorophyll

The green pigment in plants that absorbs light energy for photosynthesis.

RuBisCO

An enzyme that catalyzes the first step of carbon fixation in the Calvin cycle.

Photosystem

A complex of proteins and pigments that captures and converts light energy in photosynthesis.

Cyclic Photophosphorylation

A process in photosynthesis where electrons are recycled to produce ATP without generating NADPH.

Carbon Fixation

The process of converting inorganic carbon (CO₂) into organic compounds during photosynthesis.

G3P (Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate)

A three-carbon sugar produced during the Calvin cycle, used to form glucose.

C4 Photosynthesis

A carbon fixation pathway that minimizes water loss by incorporating CO₂ into a four-carbon compound.

CAM Plants

Plants that fix carbon at night to reduce water loss during the day, an adaptation to dry climates.

Photophosphorylation

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

Electron Transport Chain

A series of protein complexes that transfer electrons through a membrane, creating a proton gradient.

NADPH

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, an electron carrier involved in the reduction phase of the Calvin cycle.

Oxygen Production

A byproduct of photosynthesis produced when water is split during the light reactions.

Stoma

The pores in the leaf surface that allow the exchange of gases (CO₂ and O₂) with the environment.