Case 6.1 Identify The Cellular Structures Where Photosynthesis

6.1 Overview of Photosynthesis
6.1.1 Identify the cellular structures where photosynthesis occurs.

A: It occurs in plants inside of the chloroplast

6.1.2 Locate the structures within a chloroplast and list their functions.

A: A double membrane surrounds a fluid-filled area called the stroma. A third membrane system within the stroma forms flattened stacks called thylakoids, which in some places are stacked to from grana. The space within each thylakoid is believed to be connected to the space within every thylakoid, thereby forming an inner compartment within chloroplast called the thylakoid space.

(Source: Essentials of Biology, pg. 97)

6.1.3 Give the overall chemical equation for photosynthesis.

A: 6CO2 + 6H2O ------> C6H12O6 +
This is the molecule which makes photosynthesis possible, by passing its energized electrons on to molecules which will manufacture sugars. All plants, algae, and cyanobacteria which photosynthesize contain chlorophyll "a". A second kind of chlorophyll is chlorophyll "b", which occurs only in "green algae" and in the plants.Carotenoids are usually red, orange, or yellow pigments, and include the familiar compound carotene, which gives carrots their color. These compounds are composed of two small six-carbon rings connected by a "chain" of carbon atoms. As a result, they do not dissolve in water, and must be attached to membranes within the cell. Carotenoids cannot transfer sunlight energy directly to the photosynthetic pathway, but must pass their absorbed energy to chlorophyll.

(Source: Essentials of Biology, pg. 100)

6.2.2 Explain the electron pathway of the light reactions, and list the order in which each complex participates in the pathway.

A: The light reaction uses two photosystems called photosystem I ad photosystem II.
(Source: Essentials of Biology, pg. 100)

6.2.3 Explain how the energy harvested by the electron transport chain is utilized to make ATP and NADPH.
A: The electron acceptor sends energized electrons, received from the reaction center, down an electric transport chain. In an electron transport chain, a series of carriers pass electrons from one to the other, releasing
A: Depends on the weather. In dry climates C4 has the advantage but in the weather is moderate C3 has the advantage.
(Source: Essentials of Biology, pg. 106)

6.4.3 Compare and contrast the leaf structure of a C3 plant with that of a C4 plant.
C3 Plant
A: The leaves do not possess Krans anatomy, the chloroplast doesn't have peripheral reticulum, and the chloroplast are monomorphic. C4 Plants' chloroplast has periphericalreticulum and their chloroplasts are of types dimorphic

6.4.4 Explain CAM photosynthesis and describe the conditions under which plants may use it
A: The final form of photosynthesis is CAM photosynthesis or Crassulacean-Acid metabolism. This type of photosynthesis is most common in desert plants where water is at a premium. In CAM photosynthesis, CO2 is taken up only at night and is stored in vacuoles. This causes a buildup of oxaloacetate (acidic) - which we just met in C4 photosynthesis - in those vacuoles. The effect is to partition the initial uptake of CO2 and the rest of the Calvin Cycle over time (as opposed to the partition of these reactions in space that occurs in C4 photosynthesis). The stomata are open only at night, when it is relatively cool and humid; they stay closed during the hot, dry