What Is Photosynthesis

PHOTOSYNTHESIS CYCLE
Photosynthesis takes in the carbon dioxide produced by all breathing organisms and
reintroduces oxygen into the atmosphere. Photosynthesis is the process used by plants, algae and
certain bacteria to harness energy from sunlight into chemical energy. Basically, Photosynthesis
is the process where green plants use sunlight to synthesize foods from carbon dioxide and water.
Pigments are molecules that bestow color on plants, algae and bacteria, but they are also
responsible for effectively trapping sunlight. Pigments of different colors absorb different
wavelengths of light. Below are the three main groups.
Chlorophylls: These green-colored pigments are capable of trapping blue and red light.
Chlorophylls have three sub-types, dubbed chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and chlorophyll c.
Carotenoids: These red, orange, or yellow-colored pigments absorb bluish-green light.
Examples of carotenoids are xanthophyll (yellow) and carotene (orange) from which carrots get
their color.
Phycobilins: These red or blue pigments absorb wavelengths of light that are not as well
absorbed by chlorophylls and carotenoids. They are seen in cyanobacteria and red algae.
Photosynthetic eukaryotic organisms contain organelles called plastids in their cytoplasm.
The double-membraned plastids in plants and algae are referred to as primary plastids, while the
multiple-membraned variety found in plankton are called secondary plastids. These organelles
generally contain pigments or can store nutrients. It enumerates the various plastids found in
plants. Colorless and non-pigmented leucoplasts store fats and starch, while chromoplasts contain
carotenoids and chloroplasts contain chlorophyll.
Photosynthesis occurs in the chloroplasts, specifically, in the grana and stroma regions.
The grana is the innermost portion of the organelle. A collection of disc-shaped membranes,
stacked into columns like plates. The individual discs are called thylakoids. It is here that the
transfer of electrons takes place. The empty spaces between columns of grana constitute the
stroma.
Chloroplasts are similar to mitochondria in that they have their own genome, or collection
of genes, contained within circular DNA. These genes encode proteins essential to the organelle
and to photosynthesis. Like mitochondria, chloroplasts are also thought to have originated from
primitive bacterial cells through the process of endosymbiosis.
Pigment molecules are associated with proteins, which allow them the flexibility to move
toward light and toward one another. A large collection of 100 to 5,000 pigment molecules
constitutes antennae. These structures effectively capture light energy from the sun, in the form of
photons. Ultimately, light energy must be transferred to a pigment-protein complex that can
convert it to chemical energy, in the form of electrons.
The pigments and proteins which convert light energy to chemical energy and begin the
process of electron transfer are know as reaction centers.
Light-dependent reactions (also called light reactions): When a photon of light hits the
reaction center, a pigment molecule such as chlorophyll releases an electron. original chlorophyll
pigment is filled by taking an electron from water. As a result, oxygen is released into the
atmosphere.
Light-independent reactions (also called dark reactions): ATP and NADPH are rich energy
sources, which drive dark reactions. During this process carbon dioxide and water combine to form
carbohydrates like glucose. This is known as carbon fixation.

CAUSE AND EFFECT
Trees and other plants help keep the planet cool, but rising levels of carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere are turning down this global air conditioner.
This warming is in addition to carbon dioxide's better-known effect as a heat-trapping
greenhouse gas. For scientists trying to predict global climate change in the coming century, the
study underscores the importance of including plants in their climate models.
Plants give off water through tiny pores in their leaves, a process called evapotranspiration
that cools the plant, just as perspiration cools our bodies. On a hot day, a tree can release tens of
gallons of water into the air, acting as a natural air conditioner for its surroundings. The plants
absorb carbon dioxide for photosynthesis through the same pores (called stomata). But when
carbon dioxide levels are high, the leaf pores shrink. This causes less water to be released,
diminishing the tree's cooling power. We need to take great care in considering what kind of
changes we make to forests and other ecosystems, because they are likely to have important climate
consequences.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Photosynthesis occurs in two stages. In the first stage, light-dependent reactions or light
reactions capture the energy of light and use it to make the energy-storage
molecules ATP and NADPH. During the second stage, the light-independent reactions use these
products to capture and reduce carbon dioxide.
Most organisms that utilize oxygenic photosynthesis use visible light for the light-
dependent reactions, although at least three use shortwave infrared or, more specifically, far-red
radiation.[17]
Some organisms employ even more radical variants of photosynthesis. Some archaea use
a simpler method that employs a pigment similar to those used for vision in animals.
The bacteriorhodopsin changes its configuration in response to sunlight, acting as a proton pump.
This produces a proton gradient more directly, which is then converted to chemical energy. The
process does not involve carbon dioxide fixation and does not release oxygen, and seems to have
evolved separately from the more common types of photosynthesis.

WRITE-UP
IN
ENGLISH
10
Francis John C. Mendoza

10 – Einstein
Mrs. Aiza Tañada

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PHOTOSYNTHESIS CYCLE

wavelengths of light. Below are the three main groups.

Chlorophylls have three sub-types, dubbed chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and chlorophyll c.

Carotenoids: These red, orange, or yellow-colored pigments absorb bluish-green light.

carotenoids and chloroplasts contain chlorophyll.

primitive bacterial cells through the process of endosymbiosis.

convert it to chemical energy, in the form of electrons.

process of electron transfer are know as reaction centers.

carbohydrates like glucose. This is known as carbon fixation.

atmosphere are turning down this global air conditioner.

This warming is in addition to carbon dioxide's better-known effect as a heat-trapping

study underscores the importance of including plants in their climate models.

products to capture and reduce carbon dioxide.

evolved separately from the more common types of photosynthesis.

Francis John C. Mendoza

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