the step in photosynthesis where organisms capture co2 in order to convert it into glucose

The step in photosynthesis where organisms capture CO₂ in order to convert it into glucose is called carbon fixation , and in most plants it happens in the Calvin cycle , starting with the enzyme RuBisCO attaching CO₂ to a 5‑carbon sugar called RuBP.

What this step is

• In the Calvin cycle, CO₂ from the air is attached (fixed) to ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) by the enzyme RuBisCO.

• This produces unstable 6‑carbon intermediates that quickly split into two 3‑carbon molecules, which are later processed into glucose and other sugars.

Where it fits in photosynthesis

• Photosynthesis has two big stages: the light reactions (capture sunlight, make ATP and NADPH) and the Calvin cycle (use ATP, NADPH, and CO₂ to build sugars).

• Carbon fixation is the first phase of the Calvin cycle and is the key biochemical doorway that brings atmospheric CO₂ into organic molecules.

Different plant types and CO₂ capture

• In typical C₃ plants, CO₂ goes directly into the Calvin cycle in mesophyll cells, where RuBisCO performs carbon fixation.

• In C₄ and CAM plants, CO₂ is first turned into a 4‑carbon compound that concentrates CO₂ around RuBisCO, making carbon fixation more efficient before the Calvin cycle runs.

Why this step matters today

• Carbon fixation makes photosynthesis “nature’s carbon capture machine,” pulling CO₂ from the atmosphere and locking it into biomass.

• Because of climate change concerns, current research and news often focus on engineering RuBisCO and the Calvin cycle to boost CO₂ capture and crop yields in a warming world.

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Learn what the step in photosynthesis is where organisms capture CO₂ to convert it into glucose, how carbon fixation in the Calvin cycle works, and why it matters for today’s climate and food security.

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