chlorophyllcentric

Chlorophyllcentric is a neologism used in biology and philosophy of science to describe research approaches, theories, or systems that center chlorophyll as the central component of photosynthetic analysis. The term signals a perspective in which chlorophyll content, properties, and behavior are treated as the primary determinants of light harvesting, energy transfer, and, by extension, photosynthetic efficiency.

Etymology: The word combines chlorophyll, the green pigment involved in capturing light, with centric, meaning centered. The suffix conveys emphasis on the pigment as a focal point of study.

Use and scope: In plant physiology, chlorophyllcentric models foreground chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b absorption characteristics, their arrangement in chloroplast antenna complexes, and their role in initiating charge separation. In synthetic biology and bioengineering, proponents may describe designs that optimize chlorophyll-based pathways or approximate natural light capture around chlorophyll molecules.

Limitations and critique: Critics argue that chlorophyllcentric viewpoints can overlook the roles of accessory pigments (carotenoids, phycobilins), protein scaffolds, membrane organization, and carbon fixation pathways that together determine photosynthetic performance. When overapplied, the approach may misrepresent the distributed and cooperative nature of light harvesting.

See also: photosynthesis, chloroplast, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, pigment-protein complex.