Sunday, November 6, 2011

What is Photosynthesis?


!±8± What is Photosynthesis?

Photosynthesis can simply be defined by its terms; photo means light and synthesis means manufacture. Photosynthesis takes place mainly in plant leaves, and little to none occurs in stems.

The parts of a typical leaf include the upper and lower epidermis, the spongy mesophyll, palisade mesophyll, the cuticle, the vascular bundles and the stomatas. The upper and lower epidermal cells do not have chloroplasts, thus photosynthesis does not occur there. They merely serve as a protection of the inner cells of leaves. The stomatas are holes which are found mostly on the lower epidermis and are for air exchange: they let CO2 in and O2 out. The vascular bundles in a leaf are part of the plant's transportation system, moving water and nutrients around the plant as needed. The palisade mesophyll cells have chloroplasts and this is where photosynthesis occurs.

Photosynthesis is the process whereby green plants use carbon dioxide and water with the presence of sunlight and chlorophyll to produce glucose and oxygen.

Carbon dioxide + Water ===>> Glucose + Oxygen

Glucose is the first product of photosynthesis then it is converted into starch, protein, cellulose, and thousands of other chemical compounds where it is subsequently used by organisms. This happens because green plants are able to synthesis their own food from simple materials unlike heterotrophs (animals) they cannot do this so they rely on autotrophs (green plants) for their method of nutrition. Photosynthesis is a vital process needed for the continuation of life on earth. It is also the source of the oxygen essential for the survival of all organisms. Without photosynthesis occurring; all living things on earth would perish.

There are six factors that affect the rate of photosynthesis. These being; light intensity, temperature, carbon dioxide availability, light wavelength, water availability and chlorophyll concentration. The more light intensity, temperature, CO2 & Chlorophyll concentration; the faster the rate of photosynthesis occurs but only up to a certain point. The rate of photosynthesis is also faster in blue or red light and is very low with green light. The lack of water will also decrease photosynthesis.

So in conclusion, Photosynthesis is a very complex but important enzyme controlled process vital for the existence of all living things, because all living things are dependent on green plants maybe not for food but definitely for oxygen. I hope this article helped in understanding this biological process.


What is Photosynthesis?

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