Photosynthesis-Light Harvesting  

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Overview

Photosynthesis is process that is most responsible for life on the earth, as we know it.

Simple organisms like chemosynthetic bacteria can function in anaerobic environments. However, the cosmic diversity of organisms that exist in the biosphere depends on Photosynthesis for two fundamentally important processes. These are Oxygen Evolution and Carbon Fixation. We will explore the processes which produce Oxygen and Chemical Energy first. This chemical energy is used in Carbon Fixation which will be discussed later.

Photosynthesis means Light Building or Light Using. Solar energy is absorbed and is used to create chemical energy which is ultimately stored as Carbohydrates.

This process is complex because it involves Biophysics plus Biochemistry as well as the Ultrastructure of the Chloroplast. We will not explore the chemical/physical factors in great detail but will concentrate on the relationship of these processes to the structure and function of Chloroplasts & Leaves.

However, it is important to review the basic underlying processes.

*****Excellent Chapter on Photosynthesis

http://gened.emc.maricopa.edu/bio/bio181/BIOBK/BioBookPS.html#Table%20of%20Contents

Excellent overview of Photosynthesis (More Technical than required for BOT 311)

http://photoscience.la.asu.edu/photosyn/education/photointro.html

Overview of the Visible Spectrum

http://www.taylor.k12.ga.us/tsmith/visible_spectrum.htm

Fermilabs' treatment of Light (More Technical than required for BOT 311)

http://www.fnal.gov/pub/light/light_page0.html