Answer :
Carbon fixation is the process by which carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere is converted into organic compounds, such as carbohydrates, during photosynthesis.
It is a crucial step in the carbon cycle and is essential for the production of food and energy by plants and other photosynthetic organisms.
During photosynthesis, carbon fixation occurs in two main stages: the light-dependent reactions and the Calvin cycle.
1. Light-dependent reactions: These reactions occur in the thylakoid membrane of the chloroplasts. They involve the absorption of light energy by chlorophyll and the conversion of this energy into chemical energy in the form of ATP and NADPH. In these reactions, water molecules are also split, releasing oxygen as a byproduct.
2. Calvin cycle: Also known as the light-independent reactions or the dark reactions, the Calvin cycle takes place in the stroma of the chloroplasts. It uses the ATP and NADPH produced in the light-dependent reactions to convert carbon dioxide into organic compounds. The key enzyme involved in this process is called RuBisCO (Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase). The first stable product formed during the Calvin cycle is a three-carbon compound called 3-phosphoglycerate (3-PGA). This molecule will undergo further reactions to form glucose and other organic compounds.
Hence, carbon fixation is the process by which carbon dioxide is converted into organic compounds during photosynthesis. It occurs in the light-independent reactions of photosynthesis, also known as the Calvin cycle, after the light-dependent reactions have generated ATP and NADPH.
This process is vital for the production of food and energy in plants and plays a significant role in the global carbon cycle.
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