Calvin Cycle

Front

Photosynthesis Noun

---

[fo-to-sin-thuh-sis]

Back

Photosynthesis

---

The process used by plants to convert light energy into chemical energy, creating sugar from carbon dioxide and water.

---

Example: A plant uses sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to create its food (sugars) and releases oxygen as a byproduct.

Front

Autotroph Noun

---

[aw-toh-trohf]

Back

Autotroph

---

An organism that produces its own food from inorganic substances, typically using light energy through the process of photosynthesis.

---

Example: This diagram shows an autotroph (a plant) using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to create its own food (glucose), which is the essence of photosynthesis.

Front

Chloroplast Noun

---

[klor-oh-plast]

Back

Chloroplast

---

The specific organelle within plant and algae cells where the entire process of photosynthesis takes place.

---

Example: This diagram shows a chloroplast, the organelle inside a plant leaf where photosynthesis happens. The Calvin cycle specifically occurs in the fluid-filled stroma.

Front

Stroma Noun

---

[stroh-muh]

Back

Stroma

---

The fluid-filled space within a chloroplast that surrounds the thylakoids and is the site of the Calvin cycle reactions.

---

Example: This diagram shows the stroma, the fluid-filled space inside a chloroplast, which is the location where the Calvin Cycle reactions of photosynthesis happen.

Front

Thylakoid Noun

---

[thy-luh-koid]

Back

Thylakoid

---

A system of interconnected membrane-bound sacs within the chloroplast where the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis occur.

---

Example: This diagram shows a chloroplast's internal parts, identifying thylakoids as the stacked, disc-shaped structures where the first stage of photosynthesis happens.

Front

Chlorophyll Noun

---

[klor-uh-fil]

Back

Chlorophyll

---

The primary green pigment molecule in chloroplasts that absorbs sunlight to initiate the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis.

---

Example: This diagram shows a chloroplast, labeling the thylakoids where chlorophyll is located and the stroma where the Calvin Cycle takes place.

Front

ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) Noun

---

[ay-tee-pee (uh-den-uh-seen try-fos-fayt)]

Back

ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)

---

A molecule that acts as the main energy currency of the cell, providing the energy for metabolic processes.

---

Example: This diagram shows how ATP (a charged battery) releases energy to become ADP (a dead battery), and then uses energy to recharge back into ATP.

Front

NADPH Noun

---

[en-ay-dee-pee-aych]

Back

NADPH

---

An electron carrier molecule that transports high-energy electrons from the light reactions for use in the Calvin cycle.

---

Example: This diagram shows NADPH is an energy-carrying molecule, produced during the light-dependent reactions and then used to power the Calvin cycle to make sugars.

Front

Calvin Cycle Noun

---

[kal-vin sy-kuhl]

Back

Calvin Cycle

---

The light-independent stage of photosynthesis where energy from ATP and NADPH is used to convert carbon dioxide into sugar.

---

Example: This diagram shows the Calvin Cycle, a process where plants use carbon dioxide (CO2), ATP, and NADPH to create a 3-carbon sugar for energy.

Front

Carbon Fixation Noun

---

[kar-buhn fik-say-shun]

Back

Carbon Fixation

---

The initial step of the Calvin cycle where the enzyme Rubisco incorporates an inorganic CO2 molecule into an organic molecule.

---

Example: This diagram shows a carbon dioxide (CO₂) molecule being 'fixed' or attached to a larger molecule (RuBP) to create new molecules (3-PG) during the Calvin Cycle.