Chlorophyll photosynthesis is the biochemical process that underlies plant survival: through this phenomenon, in fact, sunlight is captured through chlorophyll and transformed into chemical energy, essential for synthesizing glucose molecules and freeing oxygen. Let's see in more detail how it works.

Chlorophyll Photosynthesis: explanation of the process Chlorophyll photosynthesis is a process of fundamental importance, not only for the survival of plants but also for our own life.

As we will see in a moment, in fact, this phenomenon releases oxygen from the carbon dioxide present in the atmosphere. But how does it work in detail? Chlorophyll photosynthesis is a biochemical process: to understand its mechanism we must observe the chemical formula that expounds this phenomenon 6 CO2 + 6 H2O → C6H12O6 + 6 O2 6 molecules of carbon dioxide + 6 molecules of water = 1 molecule of glucose + 6 molecules of oxygen. As is evident when reading the chemical formula of chlorophyll photosynthesis, the plants during this process absorb 6 molecules of carbon dioxide and 6 molecules of water and transform them into 1 molecule of glucose and into 6 other molecules of oxygen. Chlorophyll Photosynthesis: glucose The question comes spontaneously: what is glucose for?

Why do plants produce this compound with photosynthesis? Glucose is fundamental because it allows the synthesis of high energy molecules and thus freeing up the energy necessary for the metabolic process.

In essence, therefore, the plants are able to stay alive thanks to the chlorophyll photosynthesis because they succeed in this process to obtain glucose, which is essential for their survival. Chlorophyll Photosynthesis: oxygen Chlorophyll photosynthesis is also essential because it allows to release oxygen into the atmosphere (through the stroma of the leaves): the plants then take carbon dioxide and turn it into oxygen, which is essential for our survival. For this reason the deforestation and the progressive reduction of the green lungs of our planet arouse alarmism: if on the face of the earth all the plants should disappear, it would be impossible for us to survive. Scheme and phases of the process

The process of chlorophyll photosynthesis takes place in 2 phases, each of which is fundamental for its success:

     Luminous phase: an electron transport chain uses light to produce energy in the form of ATP;
     Dark phase (Calvin cycle): in the chloroplast stroma there is the transformation of inorganic carbon (present in carbon dioxide) into organic carbon molecules (glucose).

The luminous phase, to be able to happen, necessarily requires the presence of a light source and therefore of sun: through the chlorophyll the sunlight is absorbed and therefore produced useful energy for the plant. The dark phase, however, always happens because it does not require light.

Because chlorophyll photosynthesis is essential

Chlorophyll photosynthesis is one of those essential processes for the survival of life on Earth: it is in fact through this process that plants manage to nurture and survive, but not only. As we mentioned before, without the chlorophyll photosynthesis, plants would not absorb the carbon dioxide present in the atmosphere and above all would not produce oxygen (indispensable for our very existence).

As we have seen when we talked about the Greenhouse Effect and Acid Rain, carbon dioxide is a big problem nowadays because it is present in large quantities in the atmosphere because of the pollutants of the industries. Plants can significantly reduce the presence of carbon dioxide in the air and turn it into oxygen.

Let's recap what is photosynthesis

Recent discoveries on chlorophyll photosynthesis

In recent years there have been numerous studies on photosynthesis. Researchers in synthetic biology have explored the topic thoroughly, doing careful experiments and studies. The latest research has as its protagonist a sea snail, similar to a leaf, which seems to be nourished by sunlight. Elysia chlorotica, as it is called, would feed on sunlight, but it is an animal. An incredible discovery. It retains its color by eating algae and replicating its photosynthetic genes. It is the only case in the known world of a multicellular being that is able to appropriate the DNA of others. Until the moment of the discovery of this snail, it was declared impossible that an alga could work in an animal cell, and yet these snails make it possible. The animal consequently relies on sunlight for its nutrition. As for the use of solar energy, men moving, require a substantial diet. The plants instead conserve their slow and constant nourishment of "solar juice" remaining motionless. Thanks to this snail, it was discovered that from the biological point of view and genetic difference it is not so much, if it is possible for an animal to steal the photosynthesis of a plant. Proceeding with research into synthetic biology, it seems that these marine beings are not the only animal in the animal kingdom to do so. There is an aphid that seems to absorb solar energy through carotenoids, pigments. So also the vespa orientalis, uses xantoferina in order to convert the energy of the sun into electricity. None of these animals, however, is photosynthetic. As the studies progress, we discover several animals that are somehow able to replicate photosynthesis: the coral, the spotted salamander and others. The snails, however, are the only ones to have no intermediaries and to make chlorophyll photosynthesis on their own, eating chloroplasts and covering with them the walls of their digestive system. On the basis of these discoveries, one wonders whether it is really madness to think about following nature in doing photosynthesis, we will see how the studies will proceed.

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