Photosynthesis
The process by which plants, algae, and some bacteria convert light energy into chemical energy stored as glucose.
From Wikipedia. Photosynthesis converts carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and energy-rich organic compounds, using light, primarily from the sun.
See also: chlorophyll, Calvin cycle, light-dependent reactions, primary production, carbon fixation.
Related topics
Chlorophyll
The pigment that makes the reaction possible — and makes leaves green.
Calvin cycle
The dark-stage reactions that fix CO₂ into sugar.
Cellular respiration
The reverse process — turning glucose back into energy in mitochondria.
Primary production
The ecosystem-scale outcome of photosynthesis.
C4 carbon fixation
An adaptation many tropical plants use to photosynthesise efficiently in heat.
Stomata
Pores on leaves that let CO₂ in and water vapour out.
Cyanobacteria
The first organisms thought to have evolved photosynthesis, ~2.5 billion years ago.
Great Oxidation Event
The atmospheric consequence of photosynthesis taking off.
Photosystem II
The protein complex that splits water molecules to release oxygen.
Krebs cycle
How the products of photosynthesis are later metabolised by living things.
Phototropism
The behaviour of plants growing toward a light source.
RuBisCO
The most abundant enzyme on Earth, central to carbon fixation.
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