3.1 Lesson 3 Introduction Unit C
Completion requirements
Unit C
Module 5 ~ Lesson 3
Thinking Critically
"Studies conducted by the US and Russian space agencies show that astronauts consume approximately 0.9 kg of oxygen and exhale approximately 1.1 kg of carbon dioxide every 24 h. Based on this data, approximately 0.64 kg of new dry plant material must be produced by photosynthesis each day to supply the oxygen needs of one adult."
Dr. B. C. Wolverton
Will plants soon be an oxygen source for space travel? What other benefits would plants provide for extended space exploration?
Light-Independent Reactions
The second process in photosynthesis does not require light.
In this lesson, the following essential questions will be examined:
- How is carbon dioxide used during the light-independent reactions of photosynthesis?
- How are ATP and NADPH produced by the light-dependent reactions used to make glucose?