❮ 73Photosynthesis
IN THIS CHAPTERIN THIS CHAPTER
Summary:This chapter discusses the basics behind the energy-creation
process known as photosynthesis. It also teaches you how plants generate
their energy from light. You will learn to differentiate between the two
stages—the light-dependent and the light-independent reactions.Key Ideas
✪Overall photosynthesis reaction: H 2 O+CO 2 +light→O 2 +glucose+H 2 O.
✪Light-dependent reactions: inputs are water and light; products are ATP,
NADPH, and O2.
✪The oxygen produced in photosynthesis comes from the water.
✪The carbon in the glucose produced in photosynthesis comes from the
CO2.
✪Light-independent reactions (dark reactions): inputs are NADPH, ATP and
CO 2 ; products are ADP, NADP+, and sugar.Introduction
In Chapter 7, we discussed how human and animal cells generate the energy needed to sur-
vive and perform on a day-to-day basis. Now we are going to look at how plants generate
their energy from light—the process of photosynthesis.We stress again in this chapter what
we said about respiration—do not get caught up in the memorization of every fact. Make
sure that you understand the basic, overall concepts and the major ideas. Remember that
most of plant photosynthesis occurs in the plant’s leaves. The majority of the chloroplasts of
a plant are found in mesophyll cells. Remember that there are two stages to photosynthesis:CHAPTER
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