The Marvels of Photosynthesis: How Plants Make Food

In the scientific community, one of the most amazing phenomenon is without doubt photosynthesis. This wonderful event is responsible for the plants synthesizing their food, and it is considered as one of the key factors that ensure life on Earth.

Source freepik

Photosynthesis happens in the chloroplasts of plant cells during which green colored chlorophyll, a pigment, converts energy from sunlight. This power is applied for converting carbon dioxide from air and water from soil into glucose which is the major source of energy for the plant.

The process of photosynthesis can be broken down into two main stages: the photophosphorylation and the Calvin cycle wherein the light-dependent reactions and the light-independent reactions occurs. During light-dependent reactions chemicals of chlorophyll undergo the process of splitting water molecules into oxygen, hydrogen ions and electrons. The oxygen atoms as part of the water molecule are split off during the reaction and the hydrogen ions and electrons are used for energy production in the form of ATP and NADPH.

Through Calvin cycle, the ATP and NADPH which resulted from light-dependent reactions are used as fuel to convert carbon dioxide into glucose. This process is comprised of many enzyme-mediated reactions finally leading to the formation of glucose - the substance that serves as the primary energy source for the plant.

Photosynthesis not only has it's foundations in plants but their effects go much further to all life forms. Plants play the role of primary producers in the majority of ecosystems, which means they take sunlight and change it into energy, which is then consumed by other organisms. Without photosynthesis, there would be no oxygen for us to breath which is the fact that life itself would not be possible by any means.

Knowing about photosynthesis is not only a knowledge of how plants grow but also signals the interrelatedness of all organisms on earth. It is the evidence of how fantastic the natural world can be and the sign of continuous efforts of ecosystem that enables it.