Written By: Elene Datiashvili (13)
Photosynthesis, the process that sustains life on Earth by converting air we breathe out, into the air we breathe in. Understanding just the basics of this topic, will show the complex relationship in between plants, sunlight and the gases in the atmosphere.
The Process of Photosynthesis can be summarized into three simple, short points:
The absorption of light, carbon dioxide and water:
Plants use specialized pigment called chlorophyll (what makes leaves green), to absorb light energy from the sun. However, carbon dioxide (a gas present in the air that we breathe out) is absorbed from the air, while water is absorbed from the soil, by the roots of the plant.
Conversion of carbon dioxide and water:
Using the absorbed light energy, plants convert the carbon dioxide and water to glucose (the starch that is used by plants for energy) and oxygen.
Release of oxygen:
Oxygen is a vital waste product of photosynthesis, it is released back into the atmosphere, contributing to the oxygen cycle essential for all living organisms.
Photosynthesis in extreme environments:
Did you know that plants can adapt to be able to perform phososynthesis in various environmental conditions. From the depths of the ocean to the hot desert, these organisms have evolved fascinating strategies to thrive in extreme habitats.
Adaptions in the desert:
In arid regions where water is scarce and temperatures soar, desert plants have evolved to minimize water loss during photosynthesis. For example cacti, which have big, relatively wider stems that can store large amounts of water, long root systems to reach water in deep areas, are covered in a waxy substance to stop water evaporating and have spines (spiky leaves) to stop animals in the desert from eating them.
In conclusion photosynthesis highlights the ingenuity of nature and its profound impact on life as we know it.
Work cited from:
bbc bitesize. “Adaptations of Plants to Extreme Environments - Plant Organisation - Edexcel - GCSE Biology (Single Science) Revision - Edexcel.” BBC Bitesize, www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z2jydxs/revision/9.
---. “What Is Photosynthesis? - Respiration and Gas Exchange - KS3 Biology.” BBC Bitesize, www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zn4sv9q#ztqb3j6. Accessed 2 Feb. 2024.
Oregon Forest. “Photosynthesis.” Oregonforests.org, oregonforests.org/photosynthesis#:~:text=Photosynthesis%20is%20a%20natural%20process.
Comments