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Tutorial Questions 1) Basics of photosynthesis:
a. Review the anatomy of the leaf and the cellular locations and organelles involved in photosynthesis. The outside of the leaf is covered in a waxy layer that helps prevent water loss called the cuticle. On the underside of the leaf there are small pores called stomata, which take in carbon dioxide to convert into sugar. Inside the leaf, water is transported through tubes called xylem. Photosynthesis occurs in the mesophyll (interior) layer of the leaf. These are the cells that contain chloroplasts, which are the major sites for glucose production via photosynthesis. Chloroplasts are made up of stacks of thylakoids called granum, which store the
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The oxygen is released as a waste product, while the H+ and electrons are used to reduce NADP+ to NADPH. At the same time ADP is used to create ATP which is used as a source of energy for later parts of photosynthesis. The light-independent phase (also called the Calvin cycle) uses the NADPH created from the light-dependent phase and combines it with atmospheric CO2 in the stoma of the leaf. The protein called RuBisCO is an enzyme which helps to catalyze this reaction, and uses the ATP created in the light-dependent phase to complete the reaction. The complete reaction converts six water molecules and six CO2 molecules into glucose (C6H12O6) molecules and six O2 molecules.
2) Explain why Rubisco is possibly the most important protein on the planet. RuBisCO is the enzyme responsible for “Carbon fixation”, which means it catalyzes the production of organic molecules from inorganic carbon. It is the most abundant protein in the leaves of plants, and is estimated to convert approximately 258 billion tons of carbon dioxide annually. Artificial synthesis of this enzyme could help in reducing air pollution.
3) Explain how the eruption of a large volcano could lead to changes in the earth’s atmosphere, and consequently, life on earth. When a volcano erupts, it releases a huge amount of ash and different gasses into the air. The ash could potentially land on the surface of plant leaves, hampering their
Light intensity is a key component in photosynthesis, amongst carbon dioxide and water to sustain a suitable rate of photosynthesis. Chlorophyll absorbs the light, causing photoexcitation and the formation of NADPH and ATP with production of O2 as a by-product. The Calvin Cycle takes the NADPH and ATP to reduce CO2 into sugars (CH2O), and return NADP+ and ADP + Pi to the light reactions. The process will then repeat. (Reece, et al, 2015)
The light reactions also generate ATP by using chemiosmosis through a process called photosphorylation. The light energy is converted into chemical energy in the form of two compounds, which are NADPH and ATP. The Calvin cycle occurs with the incorporation of carbon dioxide into organic molecules in carbon fixation. In this process, the fixed carbon is reduced with electrons provided by NADPH. The Calvin cycle takes place during daylight hours, in which the NADPH and ATP can be provided. The Calvin cycle occurs in the stroma, while the light reactions occur in the thylakoids.
The leaves of a plant are the main photosynthetic organs and are involved in gas exchange and water transportation throughout a plant (Evans et al, 17). A leaf typically consists of an upper and lower epidermis, the mesophyll cells, veins, guard cells and stomata. The mesophyll cells contains spongey cells which have large gaps between each cell to allow oxygen and carbon dioxide circulation. The mesophyll cells contain palisade cells, which are located beneath the upper epidermis. The palisade cells contain many chloroplasts, which are green organelles. Located in the internal layers of chloroplasts is the pigment chlorophyll which is involved in trapping the light energy in photosynthesis (Evans et al, 17).
Photosynthesis occurs each time the sun’s light reaches the lives of a plant. The chemical ingrediants for photosynthesis are carbon dioxide (CO2), a gas that passes from the air into a plant via tiny pores, and water (H20), which absorbed from the soil by the plant’s roots. Inside leaf cells, tiny structures called chloroplasts use light energy to rearrange the atoms of the ingrediants to produce sugars, most importantly glucose (C6H12O6) and other organic molecules. Chlorophyll gives the plant its green color (Simon, 02/2012, pp. 92-93). Chemical reactions transfers the sun’s light energy into the chemical bonds that hold energy-carrying molecules. The most common are
Volcanoes are in fact important because without volcanoes the atmosphere wouldn’t have its oxygen rich properties. Many of years ago, Earth’s atmosphere was swarm with rock-forming minerals of the earth 's crust. During earlier volcanic eruptions many gasses enters into the earth atmosphere. Carbon dioxide, water vapor and many other gases
In light reactions, light is absorbed by chlorophyll in the thylakoid membrane and energizes the electrons. ATP is created from ADP and P. NADP accepts electrons and turns in to NADPH, which is energy. Once the light reactions have taken place, the light-independent, or ‘dark’ reaction occurs in the stroma, where CO2 is converted to sugar. The
Volcanoes have affected the environment throughout the years. Volcanoes have affected the environment throughout the years in many ways, good and bad. Some of the bad things to which have happened because of volcanoes is deaths of all creatures, houses being destroyed, and having mass evacuation in a large area. The most deadly volcanic eruption was in the year 1815 in Indonesia, cause
The enzyme behind this life-changing innovation is Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase, better known as Rubisco. Rubisco is involved in the first major step of carbon fixation, a process by which atmospheric CO2 is converted by plants and other photosynthetic organisms to energy-rich molecules. In chemical terms, rubisco catalyzes the carboxylation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (also known as RuBP) (“Ribulose 1,5-Bisphosphate”). This begins three rounds of a cyclical series of reactions in which three CO2 molecules are converted into a compound called glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate, which is converted into various nutrients. RuBP is replenished at the end of each cycle. The used up ATP and NADPH are converted to ADP and NADP+, respectively, which are used for the light-dependent reactions (Cranford).
The Calvin cycle refers to the light-independent reactions in photosynthesis that take place in three key steps. Although the Calvin Cycle is not directly dependent on light, it is indirectly dependent on light since the necessary energy carriers (ATP and NADPH) are products of light-dependent reactions.
The pollution in the air from the volcanic eruption was noted to have affected the radiation transfer in the atmosphere. Lamb 1970, found that there was a decrease in direct solar radiation and an increase in diffusion in the year following an eruption, and if the dust veil was large there may also be a lowering of surface temperatures. (Lamb 1970)
Abstract: During photosynthesis plants take light energy and turn it into chemical energy. The purpose of the study was to test the effect of various lighting conditions on the rate of photosynthesis. In this experiment the rate of photosynthesis is measured by timing how long it takes photosynthesis to occur in ten leaf disks that are in a solution of carbon dioxide. The prediction for this experiment was that if a plant receives more light, then it will have a higher rate of photosynthesis. The data supports the hypothesis, because the rate of photosynthesis is higher in direct sunlight than in the shade. This experiment untimely lead to the conclusions that light and carbon dioxide are necessary for photosynthesis to occur.
Though volcanoes can be very harmful they also help the environment and its nature. According to Russel Mcdonaugh, author of the article, he states, “Once volcanic deposits have been broken down, they enrich the soil both by adding important nutrients for plants and by providing excellent drainage.” (60). By adding nutrients to the soil, the deposits of the eruptions strengthen the soil and causes it to have positive effects. Some of these positive effects include nurturing
Without photosynthesis we would not be able to receive energy. We should be more appreciate of plants, without them we would not survive. This paper will explain the basic components require for photosynthesis, the role of chlorophyll, how energy is transferred, and photosystems I and II and the most precious product results of photosynthesis.
The surface of the leaf is uniformly coated with a water-resistant waxy cuticle that protects the leaf from excessive absorption of light and evaporation of water. The transparent, colourless epidermis layer allows light to pass through to the mesophyll cells where most of the photosynthesis takes place.
Photosynthesis is a very complicated process. It is not as simple as plants need a little sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide, and viola oxygen is produced. There are many steps and processes that occur during photosynthesis which make it very complicated. Now the actual word photosynthesis in Greek means photo- “light”, and –synthesis “putting together”. This is the overall basic foundation that photosynthesis stands behind. Photosynthesis can only happen in plants and some algae, due to them having an organelle called chloroplast. Chloroplast has a pigment, which is called chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is a light absorbing pigment, which allows the plant to control solar energy and use it to distribute energy and food for the plant itself. Chloroplasts are usually located in the green tissue in the interior of the leaf called the mesophyll. A usual cell has around thirty to forty chloroplast. In the inner compartment there is a thick fluid called the stroma, with a system of interconnected membranous