Multiple Choice
Which of the following statements correctly describes the initial carbon fixation step in C3 plants during photosynthesis?
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9. Photosynthesis
C3, C4 & CAM Plants
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In C4 and CAM plants, carbon dioxide is fixed in the _____ of mesophyll cells.
A
chloroplast stroma
B
nucleus
C
cytoplasm
D
mitochondria
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Understand the context of the question. C4 and CAM plants are specialized types of plants that have evolved mechanisms to fix carbon dioxide efficiently, especially in environments where water is limited or temperatures are high.
Step 2: Recall the process of carbon fixation in C4 and CAM plants. In these plants, carbon dioxide is initially fixed into a 4-carbon compound (hence the name C4) in the mesophyll cells before being transported to bundle sheath cells for the Calvin cycle.
Step 3: Identify the location of the initial carbon fixation in mesophyll cells. In C4 and CAM plants, this process occurs in the cytoplasm of mesophyll cells, where the enzyme phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEP carboxylase) catalyzes the reaction.
Step 4: Eliminate incorrect options. The chloroplast stroma is where the Calvin cycle occurs, not the initial carbon fixation. The nucleus and mitochondria are not involved in this specific process.
Step 5: Conclude that the correct answer is 'cytoplasm,' as this is the site of initial carbon fixation in mesophyll cells for C4 and CAM plants.
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