Photosynthesis- Light Independent Reactions- Calvin Cycle

In the light independent reactions the energy stored in ATP and NADPH is converted to energy stored in glucose. This invovles a chemical cycle known as the Calvin Cycle.

Expected Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course a fully engaged student should be able to

- discuss what links the light dependent and light independent reactions of photosynthesis
- describe the initial step of the Calvin Cycle
- describe the chemical reaction catalyzed by the enzyme RuBP carboxylase
- discuss some interesting characteristics of RuBP carboxylase
- define "carbon fixation" and identify the carbon fixation step in the different modes of photosynthesis
- diagram the Calvin Cycle (at the level of detail that I talked about in class)
- discuss where and why ATP and NADPH are required in the Calvin Cycle
- disucus where in the cell that the Calvin Cycle takes place

Further Viewing

1) This is an excellent animation (narrated by a man with a perfect "announcer's voice"). This animation goes into the amount of detail you are required to know for this class. It even has its own quiz, so see how you do.

http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0070960526/student_view0/chapter5/animation_quiz_1.html

2) I didn't know that photosynthesis was such a popular subject for musicians (I can't belive I gave up what would surely have been a lucrative career as a rock star to become a biologist- who knew I could have combined the two). The guy in the video is kind of a dufus, but the song is pretty cool, and I learned something from watchig it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYSD1jOD1dQ

3)This is quite a good video (sorry, no song involved). Note, this video concludes that glyceraldehyde phosphate is the result of the Calvin Cycle. For our purposes in this class we are going to conclude that glucose is the end result of this cycle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHU27qYJNU0

4) Maybe you will find this animation to be helpful

http://www.science.smith.edu/departments/Biology/Bio231/calvin.html