Photosynthesis

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Photosynthesis

• It is the process of capturing the energy in
  sunlight and changing it into a form of energy
  found in glucose molecules. (C6H12O6).
• In Photosynthesis, plants take in water (H2O)
  from the ground and carbon dioxide (CO2) from the
  air and convert sunlight energy into glucose and
  O2.

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• Photosynthesis occurs within the chloroplasts of
  plants, specifically within disk-like structures
  called thylakoids.
• Chlorophyll is a green pigment found in the
  chloroplasts.
• Chlorophyll is responsible for absorbing the
  sunlight energy for photosynthesis.

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http//www.fw.vt.edu/dendro/forestbiology/photosyn
thesis.swf
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Equation

• 6CO2 6H2O C6H12O6 6O2
• What do you notice about this equation?
• It is the reverse of cellular respiration showing
  these are two complementary processes working
  together to establish balance in energy.

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Light Reaction
Carbon Fixation Reaction
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Autotrophs vs Heterotrophs

• Organisms that can photosynthesize are called
  autotrophs (or producers) and are at the
  beginning of food chains. Ex. cyanobacteria,
  some protists, all plants
• Organisms that cannot photosynthesize are called
  heterotrophs (or consumers). They rely on
  glucose for energy, but they cannot make it so
  they must get it by eating from further down the
  food chain. Ex. fungi, animals

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Cyanobacteria - Algae
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Photosynthetic Protists
euglena
volvox
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Photosynthetic Protists
diatom
dinoflagellates
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Photosynthetic Protists
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• Most of the oxygen in the air that we breathe is
  the result of photosynthesis.
• In fact, the majority of the oxygen comes from
  microscopic organisms called phytoplankton which
  live in the oceans.