Fotosyntetisissä

Fotosyntetisissä is a Finnish term referring to the process of photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the fundamental biological process by which green plants, algae, and some bacteria convert light energy into chemical energy. This chemical energy is stored in carbohydrate molecules, such as sugars, which are synthesized from carbon dioxide and water.

The process primarily occurs in the chloroplasts of plant cells, which contain the pigment chlorophyll. Chlorophyll absorbs light energy, most effectively in the blue and red portions of the electromagnetic spectrum, while reflecting green light, which is why plants appear green. Photosynthesis is typically divided into two main stages: the light-dependent reactions and the light-independent reactions (also known as the Calvin cycle).

In the light-dependent reactions, light energy is captured and used to split water molecules, releasing oxygen as a byproduct and generating energy-carrying molecules like ATP and NADPH. These molecules then power the light-independent reactions.

The light-independent reactions utilize the ATP and NADPH produced in the first stage to fix carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into organic molecules. This process ultimately leads to the formation of glucose, a sugar that serves as a primary energy source for the organism and forms the building blocks for other organic compounds. Photosynthesis is vital for almost all life on Earth, as it produces the oxygen we breathe and forms the base of most food chains.