Photosynthesis

Figure 1- shows the reactants and products of Photosynthesis

Introduction

    When you get hungry you go to your fridge or pantry and grab whatever you want to eat. But have you ever thought about what do plants do when they get hungry. They cannot just find their own food (their a plant) Well, plants are called autotrophs which means they are able to make their own food. More specifically plants are called photoautotrophs which means they use sunlight and carbon to make their own food. They do this through a process called photosynthesis. (Figure 1)Unlike humans who are heterotrophs who cannot complete photosynthesis and have to get energy from other organisms to survive; plants rely on the process of photosynthesis for food. (Biology Dictionary, 2022)

   Photosynthesis

     Photosynthesis is a process that use sunlight, carbon, and water as a starter reactant which means it goes into the process. Many people believe that they are feeding plants when they place them in soil or water them but that is not the case. While these things are important for the plant they are not food. However through photosynthesis the plant takes the water and sunlight as well as carbon to produce glucose which the plant can use as food. This process takes place in the chloroplast. The chloroplast is one of the only organisms in a plant cell that is not in an animal cell. This is because humans do not need to make their own food unlike the plants. Now when you breath you inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. Well plants do the same thing just in reverse. Plants takes in carbon dioxide and produce oxygen. The other product of photosynthesis is glucose which the plants use for food. (Brookshire, 2020)

I could use a light snack ( Light - Dependent Reactions)

    Photosynthesis has two parts; the first part is light-dependent reactions. This takes place in the thylakoid (Figure 2). Begins in photosystems within the thylakoid; It takes light and water and produces oxygen. This converts light energy into chemical energy. This will be used later on during the Calvin Cycle.

Figure 2 - Shows the cross section of chloroplast and the different mechanisms in it

Calvin Cycle (Light-Independent Reactions)

    The second half of photosynthesis uses energy from the light dependent reaction to form glucose. The process is called the Calvin cycle. The cycle is also called light independent reactions because it does not require light. This all takes place in the stroma (Figure 2) There is three stages of the Calvin Cycle; Fixation, Reduction, Regeneration. It takes carbon dioxide and the main product is sugar. 

Why does it matter?

    So why should I care it is not like I can see photosynthesis happening? Actually, photosynthesis is something that affects every living thing. First of all plants are a primary producers and form the base of all food webs. So without plants and photosynthesis our food chain would be affected.(Why is photosynthesis important?) Also, a main product of photosynthesis is oxygen so almost all oxygen in the atmosphere came from photosynthesis. So without photosynthesis we would be without something that is very vital to all living things. If it was not for plants the earth would not be viable for any living thing to be able to sustain life.

References

Brookshire, B. (2020, November 23). Explainer: How photosynthesis works. Science News Explores. 

    https://www.snexplores.org/article/explainer-how-photosynthesis-works 

Encyclopeadia Britannica, inc. (n.d.). Why is photosynthesis important?. Encyclopædia Britannica. 

    https://www.britannica.com/question/Why-is-photosynthesis-important 

Photosynthesis - definition and examples - biology online dictionary. Biology Articles, Tutorials &

     Dictionary Online. (2022, July 15). https://www.biologyonline.com/dictionary/photosynthesis