Chapter 8 Flashcards
The range of a pigments ability to absorb various wave length of light; also a graph of such a range
Absorption spectrum
A graph that profiles the relative effectiveness of different wave lengths of radiation in driving a particular process
Action spectrum
An organism that obtains organic food molecules without eating other organisms or substances, derived from other organisms. They use energy from the sun or from oxidation of an organic substances to make organic molecules from inorganic ones.
Autotroph
A plant that uses the Calvin cycle for the initial steps that incorporate CO2 into organic material, forming a three carbon compound as the first stable intermediate
C3 plant
A plant in which the Calvin cycle is proceeded by reactions that incorporate CO2 into a four carbon compounds, the end product of which supply CO2 for the Calvin cycle
C4 plant
The second of two major stages in photosynthesis (following the light reactions) involving fixation of atmospheric CO2 and reduction of the fixed carbon into carbohydrate
Calvin cycle
A plant that uses crassulacean and metabolism, and adaptation for photosynthesis in arid conditions. In this process, carbon dioxide entering open stomata during the night is converted to organic acids, which release CO2 for the Calvincycle during the day when stomata are closed.
CAM plant
The initial incorporation of carbon from CO2 into an organic compound by an autotrophic organism
Carbon fixation 
An accessory pigment, either yellow or orange, and the chloroplasts of plants, and in some prokaryotes. By absorbing wavelengths of light that chlorophyll cannot carotenoids brought in the spectrum of colors that can drive photosynthesis.
Carotenoid 
A green pigment located in membranes within the chloroplast of plants and algae, and in the membranes of certain prokaryotes. It participate directly in the light reactions which convert solar energy to chemical energy.
Chlorophyll 
A photo synthetic pigment that participate directly in the light reactions which converts solar energy to chemical energy
Chlorophyll a
An accessory photosynhetic pigment that transfers, energy to chlorophyll a
Chlorophyll b
An adaptation for photosynthesis in arid conditions, first discovered in the family crassulaceae. In this process a plant takes up CO2 at night when stomata are open and incorporate it into a variety of organic acids; during the day, when stomata are closed, CO2 is released from the organic acids for used in the Calvin cycle.
Crassulacean acid metabolism
The entire spectrum of electromagnetic radiation, ranging in wave length from less than a nanometer to more than a kilometer
Electromagnetic spectrum
A three carbon carbohydrate that is the direct product of the Calvin cycle; it is also an intermediate in glycolysis
Glyceraldehyde 3 phosphate
An organism that obtains organic food molecules by eating other organisms or substances derived from them
Heterotroph
The first of two major stages in photosynthesis (preceding the Calvin cycle). These reactions, which occur on the thylakoid membranes of the chloroplast or on membranes of certain product carriers, convert solar, energy to chemical energy of ATP and NADPH, releasing oxygen in the process.
Light reactions
A complex of proteins associated with pigment molecules, (including chlorophyll a chlorophyll b, and carotenoids) that captures light energy and transfer it to reaction center pigments in a photo system
Light harvesting complex
A route of electron flow during the light reactions of photosynthesis that involves both photosystems and produces ATP, NADPH and O2. The net electron flow is from H2O to NADP+
Linear electron flow
Leaf cells specialized by photosynthesis. In C3 and CAM plants, mesophyll cells are located between the upper and lower epidermis; and C4 plants they are located between the bundle, sheath cells, and the epidermis.
Mesophyll
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, phosphate, an electron acceptor that, as NADPH, temporarily stores, energized electrons produced during the light reactions
NADP+
A quantum, or discrete quantity, of light energy that behaves as if it were a particle
Photon
The process of generating ATP from ADP and phosphate, by means of chemiosmosis, using a proton motive, force generated across the thylakoid membrane of the chloroplast, or the membrane of certain prokaryotes during the light reactions of photosynthesis
Photophosphorylation
A metabolic pathway that consumes oxygen,and ATP, releases carbon dioxide, and decreases photo synthetic output. It generally occurs on hot, dry, bright days, when stomata clothes, and the O2/CO2 ratio in the leaf increases, favoring the binding of O2, rather than CO2 by rubisco
Photo respiration
The conversion of light energy to chemical energy that is stored in sugars, or other organic compounds; occurs in plants, algae, and certain prokaryotes
Photosynthesis
A light capturing unit located in the thylakoid membrane of the chloroplast, or in the membrane of some prokaryotes, consisting of a reaction center complex, surrounded by numerous light harvesting complexes. There are two types of them, I and II; they absorb light best at different wavelengths.
Photosystem
One of two light capturing units in a chloroplast buy liquid membrane, or in the membrane of some prokaryotes; it has two molecules of P 700 chlorophyll a at it’s reaction center
Photosystem I
One of two light capturing units in a chloroplastylocoid membrane, or in the membrane of some prokaryotes; it has two molecules of P680 chlorophyll a at its reaction center
Photosystem II
In the thylakoid membrane of the chloroplast, or in the membrane of some prokaryotes, a specialized molecule that shares a reaction center complex, with a pair of chlorophyll a molecules, and that accepts an electron from them
Primary electron acceptor
A complex of proteins associated with a special pair of chlorophyll, a molecules and a primary electronic exceptor. Located centrally, and a photo system, this complex triggers, the light reactions of photosynthesis. Excited by light energy, the pair of chlorophyll donates an electron to the primary electronic sept, which passes in electron to an electron transport chain
Reaction center complex
Ribulose biphosphate carboxylase, the enzyme that catalyzes the first step of the Calvin cycle
Rubisco
An instrument that measures the proportions of light of different wavelengths, absorbed and transmitted by a pigment solution
Spectrophotometer
A microscopic pore surrounded by guard cells in the upper dermis of leaves and stems that allows gas exchange between the environment and the interior of the plant
Stoma
The dance fluid within the chloroplast surrounding the thylakoid membrane, and containing ribosomes and DNA; involved in the synthesis of organic molecules from carbon dioxide and water
Stroma
A flattened membrane sac inside a chloroplast. They often exist in stacks, called grana that are interconnected; there membranes contain molecular machinery, used to convert light energy to chemical energy.
Thylakoid
That portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that can be detected as various colors by the human eye, ranging and wave length from about 300 nm to about 750 nm
Visible light
The distance between crest of waves, such as those of the electromagnetic spectrum
Wave length
