photosynthesis vocab Flashcards
autotroph
an organism that can produce its own food using light, water, carbon dioxide, or other chemicals
light reactions
the process of photosynthesis that converts energy from the sun into chemical energy in the form of NADPH and ATP
chlorophyll
the green pigment in plants, algae, and cyanobacteria that is essential for photosynthesis.
Calvin cycle
A series of chemical reactions that occurs as part of the dark reactions of photosynthesis
electron transport chain
a series of four protein complexes that couple redox reactions, creating an electrochemical gradient that leads to the creation of ATP in a complete system named oxidative phosphorylation
NADPH
nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, represents an important electron donor that is used in a variety of biological settings
pigment
Pigments are defined as colored, black, white or fluorescent particulate organic or inorganic solids, which are insoluble in, and essentially physically and chemically unaffected by, the vehicle or substrate in which they are incorporated
photosynthesis
A chemical process that occurs in plants, algae, and some types of bacteria, when they are exposed to sunlight
granum
a stack of coin-shaped thylakoids in the chloroplasts of plant cells
stomata
a pore or aperture surrounded by two guard cells that allow gas exchange
carbon fixation
the conversion of atmospheric carbon dioxide into organic molecules by autotrophic organisms
heterotrophs
an organism that eats other plants or animals for energy and nutrients
Thylakoids
pouch-like sacs that are bound to a membrane in the chloroplasts of a plant cell
cerotenoids
tetraterpene pigments, which exhibit yellow, orange, red and purple colors
mitochondrial respiration
a gel-like material in the mitochondrion, or organelle that performs the process of aerobic respiration, that contains ribosomes resembling those of bacteria
Aerobic respiration
A chemical process in which oxygen is used to make energy from carbohydrates (sugars)
Fermentation
chemical process by which molecules such as glucose are broken down anaerobically
NAD+
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is an important coenzyme for redox reactions, making it central to energy metabolism
Alcoholic fermentation
the anaerobic transformation of fructose and glucose (sugars) into ethanol and carbon dioxide
Glycolysis
A process in which glucose (sugar) is partially broken down by cells in enzyme reactions that do not need oxygen
NADH
nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) + hydrogen (H).” It occurs naturally in the body and plays a role in generating energy
Anaerobic
Occurring in the absence of oxygen or not requiring oxygen to live
Cellular respiration
A chemical process in which oxygen is used to make energy from carbohydrates (sugars)
Krebs cycle
a series of chemical reactions used by all aerobic organisms to generate energy through the oxidization of acetate derived from carbohydrates, fats, and proteins into carbon dioxide
