1.

Cut out the statements

2. Sort them into two piles and label the piles
3. Organise the piles into the correct sequence
• The electrons are donated to carrier molecules (NADP+), which is used (along with ATP) in the
light independent reactions 
• The light dependent reactions occur in the intermembrane space of membranous discs
called thylakoids
• ATP and hydrogen / electrons (carried by NADPH) are transferred to the site of the light
independent reactions
• The ATP provides the required energy to power these anabolic reactions and fix the carbon
molecules together
• The light independent reactions occur within the fluid-filled interior of the chloroplast called
the stroma
• Light is absorbed by chlorophyll, which releases energised electrons that are used to produce
ATP (chemical energy)
• The hydrogen / electrons are combined with carbon dioxide to form complex organic compounds
(e.g. carbohydrates)
• The electrons lost from the chlorophyll are replaced by water, which is split (photolysis) to
produce oxygen and hydrogen
Step 1:  Light Dependent Reactions
• Light is absorbed by chlorophyll, which releases energised electrons that are used to produce ATP
(chemical energy)
• The electrons are donated to carrier molecules (NADP+), which is used (along with ATP) in the light
independent reactions 
• The electrons lost from the chlorophyll are replaced by water, which is split (photolysis) to produce
oxygen and hydrogen
• The light dependent reactions occur in the intermembrane space of membranous discs
called thylakoids

Step 2:  Light Independent Reactions

• ATP and hydrogen / electrons (carried by NADPH) are transferred to the site of the light independent
reactions
• The hydrogen / electrons are combined with carbon dioxide to form complex organic compounds (e.g.
carbohydrates)
• The ATP provides the required energy to power these anabolic reactions and fix the carbon molecules
together
• The light independent reactions occur within the fluid-filled interior of the chloroplast called the stroma
Remember: 2.9.S1 Drawing an absorption spectrum for chlorophyll and an action spectrum for photosynthesis.

The action spectrum shows the rate of The absorption spectrum shows the absorbance
photosynthesis for all the wavelengths of of light by photosynthetic pigments (here
light as a % of the maximum possible rate. chlorophyll) for all the wavelengths of light.

% of the maximum rate of photosynthesis

The presence photosystems I & II and the different proportions of

of pigments explains the mismatch between the spectrums, e.g.
the double peaks in the red wavelengths of light.

http://i-biology.net/ahl/08-cell-respiration-photosynthesis/8-2-photosynthesis/
8.3.U2 Light-independent reactions take place in the stroma.
8.3.U3 Reduced NADP and ATP are produced in the light-dependent reactions.

ATP and NADPH (reduced NADP) are

produced by the light dependent
reactions
8.3.U10 In the light-independent reactions a carboxylase catalyses the carboxylation of ribulose bisphosphate.
8.3.U11 Glycerate 3-phosphate is reduced to triose phosphate using reduced NADP and ATP.
8.3.U12 Triose phosphate is used to regenerate RuBP and produce carbohydrates.
8.3.U13 Ribulose bisphosphate is reformed using ATP.
8.3.U2 Light-independent reactions take place in the stroma.
Worksheets from inthinking
Explain how the light-independent reactions of photosynthesis rely on the light-
dependent reactions. (6 marks)
Explain how the light-independent reactions of photosynthesis rely on the light-
dependent reactions. (6 marks)
Light causes photoactivation / excitation of electrons;
This leads to the generation of both ATP and NADPH in the light dependent
reactions;;
The flow of electrons causes pumping of protons into thylakoid;ATP formation
when protons pass back across thylakoid membrane;ATP needed to regenerate
RuBP for use in the light dependent reactions;The photoactivated electrons are
passed to NADP / NADP+ reducing it (to NADPH);
Light-independent reaction fixes CO2 to make glycerate 3-phosphate;glycerate 3-
phosphate becomes reduced to triose phosphate;
The reduction uses both NADPH and ATP;

why the colour coding? s is s h o u ld enable

d in g of p h o tosynthe c o n n e ct the
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n ly e x p it h o
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New lesson
8.3.U14 The structure of the chloroplast is adapted to its function in photosynthesis.

Palisade cells are found close to the top

surface of leaves. They contain a high density
of chloroplasts to enable efficient absorption
of light.
8.3.U14 The structure of the chloroplast is adapted to its function in photosynthesis.

Thylakoid membrane & stacked discs

(grana)
Thylakoids provide a large surface area for light
absorption and light dependent reactions
Chlorophyll (and other pigments) molecules are
grouped together to form the photosystems
which are embedded in the membrane along
with the electron carriers.
folds in thylakoid allow photosystems and
electron carriers to be close together

The Stroma
Contains rubisco for carboxylation of RuBP along
with all the other enzymes required for the Calvin
cycle.
Thylakoid spaces
The spaces collect H+ for chemiosmosis,
the low volume enables a the H+
gradient to generated rapidly.
H+ flows back to the stroma, down the H+
gradient, through ATP synthase channels
(embedded in thylakoids membrane) to
produce ATP
8.3.U14 The structure of the chloroplast is adapted to its function in photosynthesis.

Compare and contrast chloroplasts and mitochondria

8.3.U14 The structure of the chloroplast is adapted to its function in photosynthesis.

Compare and contrast chloroplasts and mitochondria

8.3.S1 Annotation of a diagram to indicate the adaptations of a chloroplast to its function.

The three diagrams of a chloroplast show a

2D (left) and (bottom left) 3D diagrams plus a
coloured electron micrograph (bottom right).
Each diagram is labelled to show how to
identify the key structures.

Use the previous slides [8.3.U14] to add in

annotations to show how the structures are
adapted to the chloroplast’s function.

http://www.ib.bioninja.com.au/_Media/chloroplast_med.jpeg
8.3.S1 Annotation of a diagram to indicate the adaptations of a chloroplast to its function.
8.3.S1 Annotation of a diagram to indicate the adaptations of a chloroplast to its function.
8.3.S1 Annotation of a diagram to indicate the adaptations of a chloroplast to its function.

The three different diagrams of a chloroplast

show a 2D (left) and 3D diagrams (bottom
left) plus a coloured electron micrograph
(bottom right) and how to identify the key
structures on each. Use the previous slides
[8.3.U14] to add annotations to show how
the different structures dictate its function.
x ten s io n q ue stions: ss DNA.
E t s po s se
Ex p lain w hy chloro pla s
s p re s e nt in the stroma
1.
fu n c tio n o f the ribosome ynthesis.
2. State the k e d to p h oto s
in h o w ri b o s omes are lin
3. Expla

http://www.ib.bioninja.com.au/_Media/chloroplast_med.jpeg
8.3.A1 Calvin’s experiment to elucidate the carboxylation of RuBP.

Use the animations to learn about Calvin’s experiments

http://wps.prenhall.com/wps/media/object
s/1109/1135896/8_3.html

http://bcs.whfreeman.com/webpub/Ektron/pol1e/Animated%20Tutorials/at
0605/at_0605_pathway_co2.html

http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/Exhibits/Biotech/Images/3-9lg.jpg
8.3.A1 Calvin’s experiment to elucidate the carboxylation of RuBP.

Calvin’s experiment used Chlorella

algae which was placed in a thin glass
vessel (called the lollipop vessel). The Algae was given plenty of light, carbon
dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen carbonate
(HCO3-) containing normal carbon (12C).

At the start of the

experiment the carbon
compounds were replaced
Samples of algae were with compounds
taken at different time containing radioactive
intervals. carbon (14C).

The carbon compounds were separated by

chromatography and the compounds
containing 14C identified by
autoradiography.
http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/Exhibits/Biotech/Images/3-9lg.jpg
8.3.A1 Calvin’s experiment to elucidate the carboxylation of RuBP.

Calvin’s experiment analysed the results using

After only 5 seconds
autoradiograms
there is more
labelled glycerate 3-
phosphate than any
other compound.

This indicates that

Samples were
glycerate 3-
taken at
phosphate is the first
different time
product of carbon
intervals
fixation
after exposure
to 14C After 30 seconds a
range of different
labelled compounds
occur showing the
intermediate and
final products of the
light-independent
reactions
http://5e.plantphys.net/images/ch08/wt0802a.png
http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/Exhibits/Biotech/Images/3-9lg.jpg
Nature of Science: developments in scientific research follow improvements in apparatus - sources
of 14C and autoradiography enabled Calvin to elucidate the pathways of carbon fixation. (1.8)

Calvin’s experiment and his subsequent discoveries

were only possible due to improvements in
technology. Key developments in that process
include:
• The discovery of 14C in 1945 by Kamen and
Ruben
• The use of Autoradiography to produce patterns
of radioactive decay emissions (autoradiograms)

http://5e.plantphys.net/images/ch08/wt0802a.png
http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/Exhibits/Biotech/Images/3-9lg.jpg