Question

In a laboratory experiment, a plant receives sunlight and water, but not carbon dioxide. Predict what happens to the plant and construct an explanation for your prediction using what you know about the light-dependent and light-independent reactions.

Answer 1

Light dependent reactions oxidize water and make ATP and NADH in the process. This part of photosynthesis could continue to Occur in the aforementioned example. However, for the light independent reactions, carbon dioxide is needed as a reactant to make glucose , so the Calvin Cycle will not continue and the plant would die when it runs out of glucose.