Multiple Choice
The enzyme rubisco combines RuBP with a carbon atom from:
13. Photosynthesis
Calvin Cycle
1:43 minutesProblem 18
Textbook Question
Reactions involved in the light-independent reactions of photosynthesis constitute the _______.
a. Citric acid cycle
b. Entner-Doudoroff pathway
c. Calvin-Benson cycle
d. pentose phosphate pathway
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand that photosynthesis consists of two main stages: light-dependent reactions and light-independent reactions.
Recall that light-dependent reactions capture light energy to produce ATP and NADPH, which are then used in the light-independent reactions.
Identify that the light-independent reactions are responsible for fixing carbon dioxide into organic molecules, a process known as carbon fixation.
Recognize that the cycle responsible for carbon fixation in photosynthesis is called the Calvin-Benson cycle.
Match the correct answer choice to the Calvin-Benson cycle, which corresponds to option c.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Light-Independent Reactions of Photosynthesis
These reactions, also known as the dark reactions, do not require light directly and use ATP and NADPH produced in the light-dependent reactions to fix carbon dioxide into organic molecules. They occur in the stroma of chloroplasts and are essential for synthesizing glucose.
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Light Reactions of Photosynthesis
Calvin-Benson Cycle
The Calvin-Benson cycle is the primary pathway of carbon fixation in photosynthesis, converting CO2 into glucose using ATP and NADPH. It involves three phases: carbon fixation, reduction, and regeneration of the CO2 acceptor molecule, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate.
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Other Metabolic Pathways (Citric Acid Cycle, Entner-Doudoroff Pathway, Pentose Phosphate Pathway)
These pathways are involved in cellular metabolism but are distinct from photosynthesis. The citric acid cycle is part of aerobic respiration, the Entner-Doudoroff pathway is an alternative glycolytic route, and the pentose phosphate pathway generates NADPH and ribose sugars, but none directly represent the light-independent photosynthetic reactions.
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