Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

The Calvin Cycle

The Calvin Cycle

OverviewOxygenic photosynthesis plays a central role in the global carbon and oxygen cycles. The carbohydrates produced support nearly all food webs, while the oxygen by‑product enables aerobic life.Light‑dependent and light‑independent reactionsPhotosynthesis occurs in two main stages, each in a different part of the chloroplast: light‑dependent reactions and light‑independent reactions, also called the Calvin‑Benson cycle or simply the Calvin cycle.Light‑dependent reactions take place in the...

What is Photosynthesis?

What is Photosynthesis?

Photosynthesis is a multipart, biochemical process that occurs in plants as well as in some bacteria. It captures carbon dioxide and solar energy to produce glucose. Glucose stores chemical energy in the form of carbohydrates. The overall biochemical formula of photosynthesis is 6 CO2 + 6 H2O + Light energy → C6H12O6 + 6 O2. Photosynthesis releases oxygen into the atmosphere and is largely responsible for maintaining the Earth’s atmospheric oxygen content.

What is Photosynthesis?

What is Photosynthesis?

All living organisms on Earth are directly or indirectly dependent on photosynthesis. It is the only biological process that can capture energy from sunlight and convert it into chemical energy that every organism can use to power its metabolism. Photosynthesis is also the source of oxygen required by many living organisms.
Types of Organisms Based on their Modes of Nutrition
Broadly, there are two main categories of organisms based on their modes of nutrition — autotrophs and heterotrophs. An...

Photosystems

Photosystems

Photosystems are multiprotein complexes that form the functional units of photosynthesis in plants, algae, and cyanobacteria. They are found embedded in the membrane of tiny sac-like structures called thylakoids placed inside the chloroplast.
Functioning of Photosystems
Photosystems contain many pigment molecules, such as chlorophylls and carotenoids, arranged in a particular organization across two domains — the antenna complex and the reaction center. The main aim of the pigment molecules...

The Calvin Benson Cycle

The Calvin Benson Cycle

Ribulose 1,5- bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCo) is a critical enzyme that catalyzes carbon dioxide assimilation during photosynthesis. However, it is an inefficient enzyme, having an extremely slow catalytic rate. A typical enzyme can process about a thousand molecules per second; however, RuBisCo fixes only around three-carbon dioxides per second. Photosynthetic cells compensate for this slow rate by synthesizing very high amounts of RuBisCo, making it the most abundant single...

Oxygenic Photosynthesis

Oxygenic Photosynthesis

Oxygenic photosynthesis is a fundamental process in which light energy is harnessed to drive the oxidation of water, leading to the production of molecular oxygen (O₂), adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH). This process is essential for sustaining aerobic life on Earth and is primarily carried out by cyanobacteria, algae, and plants. The core of oxygenic photosynthesis lies in the thylakoid membranes, where chlorophyll pigments facilitate light...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

A novel approach for the management of infrabony periodontal defects using autologous dentin and L-PRF: a clinical case series report.

Frontiers in oral health·2026

Same author

Effects of undernutrition and hydroxytyrosol supplementation in late pregnancy on cow-calf performance, metabolic and immune status, and newborn vitality in beef herds.

Animal : an international journal of animal bioscience·2026

Same author

Outcomes in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for Fanconi anemia.

Bone marrow transplantation·2025

Same author

Exploratory analysis of local extreme-temperature attributable mortality in an urban city of Madrid.

Social science & medicine (1982)·2023

Same author

Outcomes and patterns of treatment in chronic myeloid leukemia, a global perspective based on a real-world data global network.

Blood cancer journal·2022

Same author

A negative energy balance during the peri-implantational period reduces dam IGF-1 but does not alter progesterone or pregnancy-specific protein B (PSPB) or fertility in suckled cows.

Domestic animal endocrinology·2020

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 24, 2026

Evaluation of Photosynthetic Efficiency in Photorespiratory Mutants by Chlorophyll Fluorescence Analysis

Evaluation of Photosynthetic Efficiency in Photorespiratory Mutants by Chlorophyll Fluorescence Analysis

Published on: December 9, 2022

Reintroducing photosynthesis.

F Vila¹, A Sanz

¹I.E.S. Conselleria, Valencia, Spain.

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education : a Bimonthly Publication of the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

|March 16, 2012

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Undergraduate students struggle with plant metabolism concepts like photosynthesis and respiration, even after repeated instruction. Reinforcing basic plant metabolism in advanced courses can improve student understanding.

More Related Videos

Assessing Structural Traits in Triticum aestivum and Zea mays for C3 and C4 Photosynthetic Differentiation Using Free-hand and Semi-thin Sections

Assessing Structural Traits in Triticum aestivum and Zea mays for C₃ and C₄ Photosynthetic Differentiation Using Free-hand and Semi-thin Sections

Published on: July 12, 2024

CO2 Photoreduction to CH4 Performance Under Concentrating Solar Light

CO₂ Photoreduction to CH₄ Performance Under Concentrating Solar Light

Published on: June 12, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 24, 2026

Evaluation of Photosynthetic Efficiency in Photorespiratory Mutants by Chlorophyll Fluorescence Analysis

Evaluation of Photosynthetic Efficiency in Photorespiratory Mutants by Chlorophyll Fluorescence Analysis

Published on: December 9, 2022

Assessing Structural Traits in Triticum aestivum and Zea mays for C3 and C4 Photosynthetic Differentiation Using Free-hand and Semi-thin Sections

Assessing Structural Traits in Triticum aestivum and Zea mays for C₃ and C₄ Photosynthetic Differentiation Using Free-hand and Semi-thin Sections

Published on: July 12, 2024

CO2 Photoreduction to CH4 Performance Under Concentrating Solar Light

CO₂ Photoreduction to CH₄ Performance Under Concentrating Solar Light

Published on: June 12, 2019

Area of Science:

Plant Physiology
Plant Metabolism
Undergraduate Education

Background:

Conceptual difficulties in photosynthesis and respiratory metabolism hinder undergraduate learning.
Plant metabolism topics are often poorly understood despite repeated instruction across educational levels.

Purpose of the Study:

To identify persistent conceptual difficulties in plant physiology, specifically photosynthesis and respiration.
To analyze student performance over ten academic years and assess prior conceptual schemes.

Main Methods:

Survey of student performance in plant metabolism over 10 academic years.
Administered a basic plant metabolism test to assess prior conceptual schemes on the first day of a Plant Physiology course.
Compared scores among different student groups.

Main Results:

Plant metabolism questions consistently yield lower correct answer rates compared to other topics.
Respiration, light-independent photosynthesis reactions, and electrochemistry concepts present significant challenges.
The initial test revealed variations in prior conceptual schemes among student groups.

Conclusions:

Repetitive teaching of plant metabolism across educational levels does not guarantee a coherent conceptual understanding.
Integrating foundational plant metabolism concepts into advanced courses is recommended to reinforce learning.
Targeted reinforcement can improve students' grasp of complex metabolic processes.