Nature's smallest factory: The Calvin cycle - Cathy Symington
TED-Ed・4 minutes read
Breakfast cereal energy is derived from sugars produced by plants through photosynthesis, involving the Calvin cycle that converts CO2 into sugar by combining carbon molecules with RuBP to create glucose efficiently and sustainably, showcasing nature's resourceful production of essential materials.
Insights
- Energy in breakfast cereal originates from sugars made by plants through photosynthesis, involving ATP storage and the Calvin cycle converting CO2 to sugar using enzymes and energy molecules like ATP and NADPH.
- The Calvin cycle is a precise process creating 12 G3P chains simultaneously from CO2 and RuBP, producing the necessary 36 carbons for sugar and RuBP regeneration, highlighting nature's resource efficiency in sugar production.
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Recent questions
How do plants produce energy?
Through photosynthesis, plants convert sunlight into sugars.
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Summary
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Efficient Calvin Cycle Produces Essential Sugar
- Energy in your breakfast cereal comes from sugars produced by plants through photosynthesis, a process divided into two steps: storing energy as ATP and using the Calvin cycle to convert carbon dioxide into sugar.
- The Calvin cycle starts with CO2 molecules and RuBP containing five carbons, with rubisco enzyme combining one carbon from CO2 with RuBP to form PGA chains. ATP provides energy, NADPH adds hydrogen, creating G3P molecules, which combine to form glucose.
- The Calvin cycle operates as a sustainable production line, with six conveyor belts simultaneously creating 12 G3P chains, ensuring the exact 36 carbons needed to produce sugar and rebuild RuBPs, showcasing nature's efficient use of resources in creating essential materials like sugar.
