Question

Which statement correctly describes carbon fixation?

a) The breakdown of glucose in glycolysis
b) The incorporation of carbon dioxide into organic compounds
c) The release of carbon dioxide during respiration
d) The conversion of glucose to pyruvate

Answer 1

Carbon fixation correctly refers to the incorporation of carbon dioxide into organic compounds, which is a key process in photosynthesis catalyzed by the enzyme RuBisCO.

Step-by-step explanation:

Carbon fixation correctly refers to the incorporation of carbon dioxide into organic compounds, which is a key process in photosynthesis catalyzed by the enzyme RuBisCO. The statement that correctly describes carbon fixation is b) The incorporation of carbon dioxide into organic compounds. Carbon fixation is a process in photosynthesis where the enzyme RuBisCO catalyzes the binding of carbon dioxide to ribulose bisphosphate (RuBP), resulting in the production of 3-phosphoglycerate (3-PGA), which is then used to synthesize glucose and other carbohydrates.

This process is crucial as it converts inorganic carbon in the form of CO2 into an organic form that can be used by living organisms. It is the initial step in the transformation of carbon dioxide into sugars during the Calvin cycle.