Tutorial #4 -- Photosynthesis: the basis of life
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1. Basics of photosynthesis:
a. Review the anatomy of the leaf and the cellular locations and organelles involved in photosynthesis.
A leaf consists of waxy cuticle layer with stoma surrounded by guard cells, xylem vascular bundle, and a mesophyll. The chloroplast is located within the mesophyll cells. The stroma and thylakoids are located inside the chloroplast. The thylakoids contain chlorophyll. The organelles that participate in photosynthesis are chloroplast, thylakoids and chlorophyll in photosystem I and II.
b. Describe and explain the role of oxygen in photosynthesis.
The role of oxygen in photosynthesis is that during the light reaction, the light that is absorbed by the chloroplast in photosystem II, excites an election, therefore making the electron travel through a series of electron carriers to produce ATP. So to replace the electron lost through this process, water molecules are split into oxygen and hydrogen. Oxygen is then released into the atmosphere.
c. Describe and explain the role of carbon dioxide in photosynthesis.
The role of carbon dioxide in photosynthesis is that during the Calvin cycle, CO2 that enters the cell is combined with RuBP. This molecule is extremely unstable and because of that it splits from a 6 carbon molecule to a 2 carbon molecule through series of reactions and with ATP and NADPH produced during the light reaction. This molecule is eventually converted to glucose. Ultimately CO2 used to make this glucose in the Calvin cycle.
d. Describe the two phases of the photosynthetic process.
The two phases in photosynthesis include light dependent reactions and light independent reactions. The light dependent reaction takes place where there is a light source (naturally it would