Light Independent Reaction Example: Detailed Facts

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Photosynthesis is a unique and complex mechanism in which the photosynthetic organisms prepare their food for survival; one of them is the light independent reaction.

In this article we will see the complex reaction and the light independent reaction example:

Photosynthesis is a process in which the photosynthetic organism captures the solar energy from the sun and the atmospheric carbon- di- oxide and water present in the earth ground to produce oxygen molecules and energy molecules for survival.

light independent reaction example
Photosynthesis
Image Credits- Pixabay

So, What is exactly a light independent reaction?

There are many complex reactions happening in every living organism and their requirements are different.

In photosynthesis, there are 2 processes.

  • Light- dependent process
  • Light- Independent process

Light dependent is a process in which the photosynthetic organism uses light to produce certain essential products.

Light independent reaction is a complex reaction taking place in photosynthetic organisms that do not require light or happens in the absence of light.

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This light independent photosynthetic reaction is a follow up process of the light dependent reaction, as the products of light dependent reaction such as NADPH (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate) and ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)  are used to prepare the energy molecules like glucose and carbohydrate molecules.

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Photosynthetic Light Independent Reaction or the Light Independent Reaction of photosynthesis:

  • The Photosynthetic Light Independent Reaction happens in the organelle chloroplast in the stroma region.
  • Here they react with NADPH (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate) and ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) along with certain enzymes.
  • Thus leading to the formation of the carbon molecules such as glucose from the atmospheric carbon- di- oxide.
  • The photosynthetic Light Independent Reaction or the Light Independent Reaction of photosynthesis is also called the light reaction of photosynthesis or the photosynthetic photoreaction process.

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Calvin Cycle:

  • From the light-dependent reactions the solar energy that is obtained from the sun is used and NADPH (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate) and ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) molecules are produced. 
  • Now, this NADPH (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate) and ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) molecules are used as the fuel in the light-independent reactions to form carbohydrate molecules or to be more precise- glucose molecules.
  • The carbohydrate molecules or the glucose molecules need carbon atoms to produce energy and this carbon they get from the atmospheric carbon dioxide present in the environment.
  • The process involves- diffusion of the atmospheric carbon- di- oxide into the stomata of the photosynthetic organisms.
  • So this calvin cycle or the light independent reaction process is a sequence of reactions that happens after the light dependent process as they end products of the light dependent process- NADPH (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate) and ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) are used to make glucose (carbohydrate) molecules.
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Stoma- Chloroplast
Image Credits- Flickr

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The Calvin-Benson Cycle:

  • The Calvin-Benson Cycle is also known as the Calvin cycle.
  • The calvin cycle is the only preferred term used all over the world but still there are many synonyms for the calvin cycle.
  • The other terms of the Calvin cycle are Calvin-Benson Cycle, Benson-Calvin Cycle, and the Calvin-Benson-Bassham Cycle.

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The Dark Reaction:

  • From the name, we can conclude that this reaction does not require light and happens only in dark- Dark reaction.
  • Apart from photosynthesis, there is another process called the photorespiration which happens simultaneously.
  • There are three phases of dark reaction which is the fixation of carbon, reduction of carbon, regeneration of RuBp-Ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate.

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