Which step in photosynthesis does not need light
The step in photosynthesis that does not require light is the Calvin cycle, also known as the dark reaction or light-independent reaction. This process takes place in the stroma of the chloroplasts and involves the conversion of carbon dioxide into glucose. It does not directly rely on light energy, but it depends on the products of the light-dependent reactions (such as ATP and NADPH) for its energy source.
The step in photosynthesis that does not require light is called the Calvin cycle, or the light-independent reactions. This process occurs in the stroma of the chloroplasts, which are the structures responsible for photosynthesis in plants.
To understand how to get to this answer, let's break it down into steps:
Step 1: Understand the process of photosynthesis.
Photosynthesis is the biochemical process by which green plants, algae, and some bacteria convert sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water into glucose (a sugar) and oxygen. This process takes place in the chloroplasts of plant cells.
Step 2: Identify the different steps of photosynthesis.
Photosynthesis can be divided into two main stages: the light-dependent reactions and the light-independent reactions (Calvin cycle).
The light-dependent reactions occur in the thylakoid membrane of the chloroplasts and require light as an energy source to produce energy-rich molecules called ATP (adenosine triphosphate) and NADPH (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate).
The light-independent reactions, also known as the Calvin cycle, take place in the stroma of the chloroplasts. Unlike the light-dependent reactions, they do not directly rely on light as an energy source.
Step 3: Identify the step that does not need light.
Since the Calvin cycle, or the light-independent reactions, occur in the absence of light, this step does not require light for its functioning. In the Calvin cycle, ATP and NADPH, which were produced in the light-dependent reactions, are used to convert carbon dioxide into glucose.
Therefore, the step in photosynthesis that does not need light is the Calvin cycle, or the light-independent reactions.