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Distinguish between light dependent reactions and carbon reactions?

User Ben Hughes
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Light dependent reactions are directly dependent on light, but carbon reactions are dependent on products of light reaction.

The light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis are dependent on light energy hitting chlorophyll in photosystem II to allow photo-ionization of chlorophyll to occur. It produces ATP and NADPH (reduced NADP) through various processes.

The light-independent reaction (Calvin Cycle or C3 Pathway) does not rely on light BUT does require the products of the light-dependent reactions: ATP and NADPH. This allows reduction of GP to GALP which is then used to produce RuBP for future cycles and glucose too for respiration and cellulose production.

User Iammilind
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