Carbon fixation
Carbon fixation
Carbon fixation or CO2 fixation is a process in photosynthesis where carbon dioxide (CO2) molecules are converted into organic compounds, particularly carbohydrates.
Pronunciation
- IPA: /ˈkɑːrbən fɪkˈseɪʃən/
Etymology
The term "carbon fixation" is derived from the chemical element carbon and the English word "fixation" which means the action of making something firm or stable. The term reflects the process of converting gaseous carbon dioxide into a stable organic compound.
Process
Carbon fixation occurs in the chloroplasts of green plants and algae during the process of photosynthesis. It is also a process in certain bacteria such as cyanobacteria. The most common method of carbon fixation is the Calvin cycle, which is a light-independent process where carbon dioxide is converted into glucose. Other methods include the C4 pathway and CAM photosynthesis, which are adaptations to arid conditions.
Related Terms
- Photosynthesis: The process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods with the aid of chlorophyll pigments.
- Chloroplast: An organelle found in plant cells and eukaryotic algae where photosynthesis occurs.
- Calvin cycle: A series of biochemical redox reactions that take place in the chloroplasts during photosynthesis.
- C4 pathway: A carbon fixation pathway that evolved in certain plants as an adaptation to high light intensities, high temperatures, and dryness.
- CAM photosynthesis: A carbon fixation pathway that evolved in certain plants as an adaptation to arid conditions.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Carbon fixation
- Wikipedia's article - Carbon fixation
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