Biology Unit 10 Vocab

ATP synthase

an enzyme located in the mitochondria of animal cells, and it produces adenosine triphosphate (ATP)

ADP and ATP

are both nucleotides involved in energy transfer within cells

autotroph

an organism that can produce its own food using light, water, carbon dioxide, or other chemicals

Bundle sheath

a compact layer of commonly parenchymatous cells forming a sheath around a vascular bundle

calvin cycle

a series of chemical reactions that convert carbon dioxide into glucose using the energy stored in ATP and NADPH produced during the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis

carbon fixation

the process by which inorganic carbon, typically in the form of carbon dioxide, is converted into organic compounds, mainly sugars, during photosynthesis

Chlorophyll

the green pigment in plants that allows them to convert sunlight into energy for growth

Deforestation & global warming

the clearing of forests for other land uses, and the long-term heating of Earth's surface due to human activities, primarily burning fossil fuels

Electromagnetic spectrum

the range of wavelengths or frequencies over which electromagnetic radiation extends

heterotroph

an organism that eats other plants or animals for energy and nutrients

PGA

3-phosphoglyceric acid, also known as 3-phosphoglycerate

PGAL/G3P

glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate

light reactions

certain photochemical reactions involved in photosynthesis, the main process by which plants acquire energy

limiting factor

an environmental condition that restricts the growth, abundance, or distribution of a population within an ecosystem

mesophyll

the internal leaf tissue located between the upper and lower epidermal layers

closely related coenzymes involved in redox reactions, particularly in anabolic pathways

oxidation

a process involving the loss of electrons from an atom or molecule, or the addition of oxygen or a nonmetal

photoautotroph

an organism that uses light energy (photons) and carbon dioxide to produce its own food through photosynthesis

photoinhibition

the light-induced reduction in photosynthetic capacity, primarily affecting Photosystem II

photon

a type of elementary particle that primarily acts as a carrier of energy

photophosphorylation

the process of using light energy to synthesize ATP (adenosine triphosphate) from ADP (adenosine diphosphate) and inorganic phosphate

photorespiration

a biological process in plants where the enzyme RuBisCO, which typically fixes carbon dioxide in photosynthesis, instead binds with oxygen, leading to a loss of carbon and energy

photosynthesis

the process by which plants, algae, and some bacteria convert light energy into chemical energy in the form of sugars, using carbon dioxide and water

photosystem I and II

two multi-protein complexes within thylakoid membranes of chloroplasts (in plants and algae) that play a crucial role in the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis

reduction

the gain of electrons, gain of hydrogen, or loss of oxygen by a molecule or atom

REDOX reactions

chemical reactions involving the transfer of electrons between molecules, where one molecule is oxidized (loses electrons) and another is reduced (gains electrons)

Rubisco

a key enzyme that plays a crucial role in photosynthesis, specifically during the Calvin cycle

RuBP

a five-carbon sugar phosphate that plays a crucial role in photosynthesis, specifically within the Calvin cycle

stoma (plural, stomata)

a tiny pore or opening, typically found on the surface of leaves and stems of plants, that facilitates gas exchange

stroma

The cells and tissues that support and give structure to organs, glands, or other tissues in the body

thylakoid

a sac-like membrane-bound compartment found inside chloroplasts and cyanobacteria

wavelength

the distance between two corresponding points on two consecutive waves, measured in the direction of wave propagation