GENERAL BIOLOGY 01 - PHOTOSYNTHESIS (MODULE 2)

Kelvin Mark S. Kaabay STEM-1108 November 26, 2022 Mr. Roberto Balistoy

Photosynthesis

PRE-TEST
1. B
2. A
3. B
4. A
5. D
6. C
7. C
8. C
9. D
10. D

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

1. Describe how light energy is converted to chemical energy during photosynthesis?
- Light energy is converted to chemical energy when a photochemically excited special
chlorophyll molecule of the photosynthetic reaction center loses an electron, undergoing
an oxidation reaction.
- In light-dependent reactions, the energy from sunlight is absorbed by chlorophyll and
converted into chemical energy in the form of electron carrier molecules like ATP and
NADPH. Light energy is harnessed in Photosystems I and II, both of which are present in
the thylakoid membranes of chloroplasts. Just as the name implies, light-dependent
reactions require sunlight. In the light-dependent reactions, energy from sunlight is
absorbed by chlorophyll and converted into stored chemical energy, in the form of the
electron carrier molecule NADPH (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate) and the
energy currency molecule ATP (adenosine triphosphate). The light-dependent reactions
take place in the thylakoid membranes in the granum (stack of thylakoids), within the
chloroplast.
2. What are the roles of ATP and NADPH in photosynthesis?
- The ATP and NADPH from the light-dependent reactions are used to make sugars in the
next stage of photosynthesis, the Calvin cycle. In another form of the light reactions,
called cyclic photophosphorylation, electrons follow a different, circular path and only
ATP (no NADPH) is produced. ATP can be used to store energy for future reactions or
be withdrawn to pay for reactions when energy is required by the cell. NADPH helps to
fuel the reactions that occur in the second stage of the process of photosynthesis. ATP
and NADPH are used to convert the six molecules of 3-PGA into six molecules of a
chemical called glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate (G3P).

POST-TEST
1. C
2. C
3. B
4. B
5. A
6. C
7. A
8. C