Overview of Photosynthesis - Diagrams from UC Davis

The Light Independent Reactions

1. What products from the light dependent reactions will be needed in the light independent reactions ?

2. If a single molecule of carbon dioxide is fixed with each rotation of the C3 cycle, how many rotations are necessary to construct a complete molecule of glucose ? Explain

3. To what molecule does carbon dioxide bond to in order to begin the C3 cycle ?

4. List all products and reactants of the C3 cycle.

5. Make a diagram illustrating the relationship of products and reactants between the light dependet and independent reactions.

6. What advantages does the C4 cycle offer to plants and which plants use this method of capturing carbon dioxide ?

7. Make a chart comparing C3 and C4 plants.