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Lecture Notes: Basics of Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants, algae, and some bacteria convert light energy into chemical energy, producing oxygen and organic compounds essential for life. It occurs in two main stages: light-dependent reactions in the thylakoid membranes and the Calvin Cycle in the stroma of chloroplasts. Factors such as light intensity, carbon dioxide concentration, temperature, and water availability affect photosynthesis, making its understanding important in various scientific fields.

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Lecture Notes: Basics of Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants, algae, and some bacteria convert light energy into chemical energy, producing oxygen and organic compounds essential for life. It occurs in two main stages: light-dependent reactions in the thylakoid membranes and the Calvin Cycle in the stroma of chloroplasts. Factors such as light intensity, carbon dioxide concentration, temperature, and water availability affect photosynthesis, making its understanding important in various scientific fields.

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dilhanmacys
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Lecture Notes: Basics of Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis is a fundamental biological process by which green plants, algae, and some bacteria
convert light energy into chemical energy. This process sustains life on Earth by producing oxygen
and organic compounds that serve as food for almost all living organisms.

Photosynthesis occurs primarily in the chloroplasts of plant cells, which contain the pigment
chlorophyll. Chlorophyll absorbs sunlight, which provides the energy required to drive the reactions.

The process can be divided into two main stages:

1. Light-dependent Reactions: These take place in the thylakoid membranes. Sunlight excites
chlorophyll molecules, causing the splitting of water molecules (photolysis) into oxygen,
protons, and electrons. Oxygen is released as a byproduct. The energy from sunlight is
converted into chemical energy in the form of ATP and NADPH.

2. Calvin Cycle (Light-independent Reactions): Occurring in the stroma of the chloroplast, this
stage uses ATP and NADPH to convert carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into glucose
through a series of enzyme-driven steps.

Photosynthesis is vital as it provides oxygen necessary for aerobic respiration and forms the base of
the food chain by producing glucose, a primary energy source.

Factors affecting photosynthesis include light intensity, carbon dioxide concentration, temperature,
and water availability.

Understanding photosynthesis is crucial in fields like agriculture, environmental science, and


renewable energy research.

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