Chapter 7 Lecture Enrichment Ideas
Describe the relationship between the reactants and products of photosynthesis, paying special attention to the carbohydrate ratio (CH2O)n. Note particularly that the water is split into oxygen and the hydrogen that goes into the carbohydrate, and note that the carbon dioxide essentially is involved in carbohydrate production.
Explain how electrons lose energy as they move down the electron transport system and how some of that energy is used to move hydrogen ions across the thylakoid membrane to form the electrochemical gradient used in making ATP.
Discuss how adding photosystem II to photosystem I made photosynthesis more efficient and linked the production of organic molecules (carbohydrates) to the production of ATP from solar energy.
Emphasize that the reaction as given for photosynthesis is actually a summary of numerous reactions that occur in both light-dependent and light-independent reactions. Separate the parts that occur in each group of reactions.
Stress that the various photosynthetic pathways are adaptations to various environments; none is superior under all conditions. Ask what would happen if one pathway was always superior.
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