Chapter 7 Photosynthesis

WHAT IS
PHOTOSYNTHESIS?
• Process by which plants
use light energy to
make food molecules
from carbon dioxide and
water

• Provides food supply for

almost all organisms on
earth

SOME ORGANISMS CAN

PRODUCE THEIR OWN FOOD

• Plants are autotrophs

– Auto = self
– Troph = feeding
• Producers
• Wide variety

Photosynthesis 1
 WHERE IN THE CELL DOES
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
OCCUR?

INPUTS TO
PHOTOSYNTHESIS

END PRODUCTS OF
PHOTOSYNTHESIS

Photosynthesis 2
 OVERALL REACTION FOR
PHOTOSYNTHESIS

TWO PROCESSES MAKE

UP PHOTOSYNTHESIS

LIGHT REACTIONS

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Photosynthesis 3
 CALVIN CYCLE

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ELECTROMAGNETIC
SPECTRUM

PLANTS ABSORB SPECIFIC

WAVELENGTHS OF LIGHT

Photosynthesis 4
 PLANTS ARE GREEN
• Absorb red-orange and
blue-green
• Reflect or transmit green
• This reflected light is what
you see
• What would happen if you
put a plant in green light?

CARBON DIOXIDE ENTERS

THE LEAF
AND OXYGEN EXITS THE LEAF
• Concentration
gradients of:
–Carbon dioxide
in air
–Water in leaf
• Stoma (singular)
• Stomata (plural)

ROLE OF STOMATA
• Stomata open
– Gas exchange with
surrounding air
• Carbon dioxide
• Oxygen
• Water vapor
• Stomata closed
– No gas exchange with
external environment

Photosynthesis 5
 PHOTOSYNTHESIS
AND CELLULAR
RESPIRATION

PHOTOSYNTHESIS
AND CELLULAR
RESPIRATION

• Inputs
• Outputs
• Animals have
mitochondria
• Plants have BOTH
chloroplasts AND
mitochondria

OXYGEN REVOLUTION
• 3 billion years ago - no green
plants
• No oxygen in atmosphere
(Only anaerobic organisms)
• Photosynthetic bacteria add
oxygen to atmosphere
• Most anaerobic organisms die
(major extinction event)
• Aerobic organisms arise
• Oxygen in upper atmosphere
into ozone
• Reduces UV radiation at
earth’s surface
• Life can invade the land

Photosynthesis 6