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1.16: Photosynthesis (PS)

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    73659

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    Photosynthesis (PS) means oxygen production to sustain life on planet Earth. Moreover, PS is critically important for food crop yield and therefore future food security. Sunlight is the major source of PS together with chlorophyll in the food making process.

    Plants absorb carbondioxide (\(\mathrm{CO}_{2}\)) from atmosphere for PS at the optimal temperatures. Lastly, rubisco is both the most abundant enzyme in biosphere and carbon fixing enzyme to produce food. However, some plant species use another more PS-efficient enzyme namely PEP carboxylase via separating light reactions and Calvin cycle. For example C4 plants such as maize and CAM plants such as pineapples separates them in different tissues and different timing, respectively. Lastly, this process helps C4 and CAM plant species to minimize photorespiration usage of \(\mathrm{O}_{2}\) instead of \(\mathrm{CO}_{2}\).

    \(\PageIndex{1}\). Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

    • SLO 16.01: Apply the best practices for learning photosynthesis
    • SLO 16.02: Describe the relationship between light and photosynthesis
    • SLO 16.03: Describe the relationship between chlorophyll and photosynthesis
    • SLO 16.04: Describe the relationship between \(\mathrm{CO}_{2}\) and photosynthesis
    • SLO 16.05: Identify given plant species with their scientific names based on their key features
    • SLO 16.06: Explain the differences between C3, C4, and CAM photosynthesis
    • SLO 16.07: Explain the differences between light reactions and Calvin cycle?

    \(\PageIndex{2}\). Big Picture

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    \(\PageIndex{3}\). Vocabulary and Key Concepts

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    \(\PageIndex{4}\). Test Your Knowledge

    • Assessment 1: TRUE or FALSE: Photosynthesis is the reverse of cellular respiration.
    • Assessment 2: TRUE or FALSE: Green plants, algae, cyanobacteria, some protists, and few animals can perform photosynthesis.
    • Assessment 3: TRUE or FALSE: While phytoplankton produces \(70 \% \mathrm{~O}_{2}\), land plants produce \(30 \% \mathrm{~O}_{2}\) of the world.
    • Assessment 4: TRUE or FALSE: Marine plants get some light from hydrothermal vents for their photosynthesis.

    \(\PageIndex{5}\). Can You Spot These Plants?

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    \(\PageIndex{6}\). Check Your Answers

    1. TRUE
    2. TRUE
    3. TRUE
    4. TRUE

    This page titled 1.16: Photosynthesis (PS) is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Gokhan Hacisalihoglu (Florida State Open Publishing) via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform; a detailed edit history is available upon request.