The light independent stage

• What is the light-independent stage of photosynthesis also known as?

  The Calvin cycle
• What types of complex organic molecules are produced in the light-independent stage?

  Carbohydrates, including starch, sucrose, cellulose
• What is the purpose of starch in plants?

  For storage
• What is the role of sucrose in plants?

  For translocation around the plant
• What is cellulose used for in plants?

  For making cell walls
• Does the light-independent stage require light energy?

  No, it can occur in light or darkness
• Why can't the light-independent stage continue indefinitely in darkness?

  It requires ATP and reduced NADP from light-dependent stage
• How many main steps are there in the Calvin cycle?

  Three main steps
• What does rubisco do in the Calvin cycle?

  Catalyses the fixation of carbon dioxide
• What is ribulose bisphosphate (RuBP)?

  A five-carbon compound in carbon fixation
• What does the reaction of RuBP with carbon dioxide yield?

  Two molecules of glycerate 3-phosphate (GP)
• What is glycerate 3-phosphate (GP)?

  A three-carbon compound in the Calvin cycle
• What happens to GP in the Calvin cycle?

  It is reduced to triose phosphate (TP)
• What is triose phosphate (TP)?

  A phosphorylated three-carbon sugar
• How much of the triose phosphate (TP) is used to produce useful organic molecules?

  One-sixth of the TP molecules
• What happens to the remaining triose phosphate (TP) molecules?

  They regenerate ribulose bisphosphate (RuBP)
• What is required for the regeneration of ribulose bisphosphate (RuBP)?

  ATP
• What does the Calvin cycle produce?

  Hexose sugars, lipids, and amino acids
• When are ADP and NADP produced in the Calvin cycle?

  During the regeneration of RuBP