Gen Bio 1 L5: Photosynthesis and its Parts

• Photosynthesis: the process by which green plants, algae, and some bacteria convert sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water into glucose (a type of sugar), and oxygen.
• Glucose: main product of photosynthesis
• Oxygen: by-product of photosynthesis
• Photosynthesis Equation (word):

  Carbon dioxide + water → sugar + oxygen
• Photosynthesis Equation:

  6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6 + 6O2
• Photosynthesis: vital for the survival of plants
• Photosynthesis: plays a crucial role in maintaining the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the earth's atmosphere.
• Chloroplasts: organelles found in plant cells where photosynthesis taks place.
• Chloroplasts: contain a green pigment called chlorophyll, which absorbs sunlight and initiates the process of photsynthesis.
• Chloroplasts: mainly found in the leaves of plants, where they are abundant in mesophyll cells.
• Chlorophyll: primary pigment responsible in capturing light energy during photosynthesis.
• Chlorophyll: found in Thylakoid Membranes of chloroplasts and gives plants their green color.
• Two main types of chlorophyll: Chlorophyll a and Chlorophyll b
• Chlorophyll a: absorbs light in the red and blue-violet regions
• Chlorophyll b: absorbs light in the blue and red-orange region
• Stomata: are tiny openings or pores found on the surface of leaves and stems.
• Stromata: they allow the exchange of gases such as carbon dioxide and oxygen, between the plant and its environment.
• During photosynthesis, carbon dioxide enters the plant through the stromata, while oxygen exits.
• Thylakoids: flattened membrane-bound sacs found inside chloroplasts.
• Thylakoids: contain chlorophyll, other pigments, protein, and enzymes necessary for the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis.
• Thylakoids: arranged in stacks called "grana", which increase the surface area available for light absorption.
• 2 Parts of Photosynthesis: Light-dependent Reactions and Calvin Cycle (Light-independent Reaction)
• Light-dependent Reaction: these reactions convert light energy into chemical energy in the form of ATP (Adenosine triphosphate) and NADPH (Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate).
• Light-dependent Reaction: Water molecules ae split releasing oxygen as a byproduct.
• Light-dependent Reaction: the energy stored in ATP and NADPH are used in the next stage of photosynthesis.
• Light-dependent Reaction: occurs in the thylakoid membranes.
• 1. Light-dependent Reactions: chlorophyll molecules in the thylakoid membranes absorb light energy.
• 2. Light-dependent Reaction: the energy is used to split water molecules into hydrogen ions (H+), electrons (e-), and oxygen (O2)
• 3. Light-dependent Reactions: the electrons are passed along a series of proteins in the thylakoid membrane, creating a flow of electrons known as the electron transport chain.
• 4. Light-dependent Reactions: This flow of electrons generates ATP and NADPH, which are used in the next stage of photosynthesis.