Chapter 10: Photosynthesis Flashcards
Chloroplasts
organelle found in plants and photosynthetic protists of that absorbs light and uses it to drive the synthesis of organic compounds from carbon dioxide and water
photosynthesis
conversion of light energy to chemical energy that is stored in sugars or other organic compounds
Autotrophs
an organism that obtains organic food molecules without eating other organisms or substances derived from other organisms. Use energy from the sun or oxidation of inorganic substacnes to make organic molecules from inorganic ones.
makes own food
Heterotrophs
An organism that obtains organic food molecules by eating other organisms or substances derived from them
finds food and consumes it
Mesophyl
Leaf cells specialized for photosynthesis*. In c3 plants, located between the upper and lower epidermic. In c4 plants, located between the bundle-sheath cells and the epidermis
Stomata
microscopic pore surrounded by guard cells in the epidermis of leaves and stems that allows gas exchange between the environment and the interior of the plant
Xylem
vascular plant tissue consisting mainly of tubular* dead cells that conduct most of the water* and minerals upward from the roots to the rest of the plant
*vascular tissue that transports water up the stem from the roots
Phloem
Vascular plant tissue consisting of living cells arranged into elongated tubes that transport sugar* and other organic nutrients throughout the plant
*vascular tissue that transport sugar through the plant
Thylakoids
*flattened membranous sac inside the chloroplast.
often exist in stacks called grana that are interconnected. their membranes contain molecular machinery used to convert light energy to chemical energy
Grana (granum)
stack of membrane bounded thylakoids in the chloroplast. grana function in the light reactions of photosynthesis
Chlorophyll
green pigment located in membranes within the chloroplasts of plants and algae and in the membranes of certain prokaryotes
Light Reactions
- What are these reactions?
- Where do they occur?
- What are the major products?
Light dependent reaction:
*Light and H20 taken in by thylakoids, and transformed into ATP and NADPH
Light Independent Reaction:
- Happens in the chloroplast, in the stroma (not thylakoid)
- CO2 is fixed, and ATP and NADPH (from Light dependent reactions) are added to make glucose
Calvin Cycle
- What is this reaction?
- Where does it occur?
- What are the major products?
- Anabolic reaction that builds glucose
- occurs in the chloroplast (in the thylakoids and the stroma)
- Produces glucose, ATP, NAPH, and O2
Wavelength
distance between crests of waves
Electromagnetic Spectrum
the entire spectrum of electromagnetic radiation, ranging in wavelength from less than a nanometer to more than a kilometer
Visible Light Range
380-750 nm, wavelengths of color that we can see
Spectrophotometer
an instrument that measures the proportions of light of different wavelengths absorbed and transmitted by a pigment solution
Pigments
light-absorbing molecules
Chlorophyll (A & B)
A. photosynthetic pigment that participates directly in the light reactions, which convert solar energy to chemical energy
B. an accessory photosynthetic pigment that transfers energy to chlorophyll a
Carotenoids
an accessory pigment, yellow or orange, in the chloroplasts of plants. absorb wavelengths of light that chloroplasts cant, broadening the spectrum of colors that drive photosynthesis
Photoprotection
absorbs excessive light that would damage chlorophyll or react with oxygen
Photosystems (II & I)
II
I
RuBP
Ribulose Biphosphate
Rubisco
the enzyme that normally catalyzes the first step of the calvin cycle (adding co2 to RuBP). When excess O2 is present or Co2 levels are low, rubisco can bind oxygen, resulting in photorespiration