Photosynthesis - Assignment Example

Photosynthesis Photosynthesis relates to the process through which green plants and other specific organisms use sunlight in synthesizing carbohydrates from water and carbon dioxide. The process occurs in three imperative stages including harnessing sunlight energy, synthesizing NADPH and ATP using energy harnessed, with the last step being Calvin cycle involving CO2 fixation. Calvin cycle as the last step uses ATP, CO2, NADPH, and ribulose 1, 5-biphosphate to synthesize glyceraldehydes 3-phosphate used in production of sugar and starch through glycolysis (Hurd et. 179). The overall process of photosynthesis occurs through the chemical reaction outlined as.

6CO2 + 6H2O + light--------> C6H12O6 + 6O2+ 6 H2O Evidently, the above process indicates that water only finds use in synthesis of energy molecules used in the subsequent steps. The steps involved in initiation of sugar synthesis entails fixation of CO2 to ribulose 1, 5-biphosphate to form glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate. 2H20 –> 4 e- + 4 H+ + O2 In establishing whether oxygen atoms fixed on ribulose 1,5-biphosphate originates from water or carbon dioxide, the investigation would use oxygen-18 isotope contained in CO2.

The study would incubate algae plant in water and supply only radioactively labeled CO2 containing Oxygen-18. The study would then allow the process to proceed in the presence of sunlight for some minutes. Oxygen-18 as a radioisotope would remain traced throughout the entire process to establish the final product contains oxygen atoms from CO2 or H2O through chromatographic methods. If the analysis indicates that oxygen-18 remains exclusively present in the final sugar product, the CO2 contributes oxygen atoms during photosynthesis otherwise it would be H2O.

Work Cited Hurd, Catriona L., Harrison, Paul J., Bischof, Kai, Lobban, Christopher S. Seaweed Ecology and Physiology. New York: Cambridge University Press