Biology/Calvin Cycle
Advertisement
Question
I am struggling with an answer for the Calvin Cycle. The question is "Which of the following are produced during the Calvin Cycle" - I know for sure glucose, ADP,& NADP+, I am tying to figure out if CO2 is also produced during the cycle or is it a product that comes from the Light Cycle. I see that CO2 is used during it but can't see where it produced. Thanks for any help.
Thanks for using AllExperts, Kelly. Carbon dioxide is part of the reactants for the Calvin cycle, and eventually becomes the glucose that you have correctly noted as a product. It is not produced by the Calvin cycle, nor is it a product of the Light cycle: the carbon dioxide consumed to make glucose is the same carbon dioxide absorbed by the plant. It is first introduced into the photosynthetic process in the Calvin cycle and is not formed by any earlier process. Where does carbon dioxide come from in the first place? As you probably know, the counterpart to photosynthesis is aerobic respiration, in which glucose molecules are oxidized to produce ATP. The six carbons of the glucose molecule are converted into carbon dioxide in that process.
Check out this website for a further discussion of the Calvin cycle. I'm happy to answer any other questions that you have.
http://www.msu.edu/~smithe44/calvin_cycle_process.htm
Related Articles
Answers by Expert:
John Locke
Expertise
I will answer all biology-related questions through the undergraduate level. I will explain unclear concepts and suggest approaches to solving problems, but would prefer not to completely solve homework problems for you. If you are completely stumped on homework, tell me what you already know and I will help you as much as possible. Please do not ask me for ideas on school research projects; part of research is determining a suitable area of investigation, and that's not a task that should be completed by someone else. Please don't simply send me your homework for solutions. If you are having difficulty after you have started an analysis, I will be happy to direct your thinking; in particular, I would prefer to not simply solve pedigrees for students, but I will be happy to assist in solving pedigrees that you have already started. If you don't understand how to analyze a pedigree, I'd highly recommend watching this video, in which a biology professor explains the basic concepts of pedigree analysis: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbIHjsn5cHo
Experience
I have a BS in Bioengineering with a concentration in Chemical Engineering (which included a heavy focus on biology), and have taught biology, biochemistry, and related subjects for some time now.
Education/Credentials
BS Bioengineering, Penn State University
MCAT/DAT/OAT Instructor
©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.