Thursday, April 11, 2019

The Calvin Cycle Flag


The Calvin Cycle is so hard to explain.  Here is another friendly simplified diagram based upon Super Mario Bros. and using dice.  The key to understanding is to look at the dots which represent the number of carbons in each molecule.  From simple Carbon Dioxide the magical enzyme Rubisco turns air in to a pear, or everything else we may like to eat.  So remember, that a cow is mostly processed grass, and grass is processed air.  That special green house gas, is known as thy holy Carbon Dioxide.  Of course, it's power by sunshine, in a matter of speaking.


This life giving chemical reaction has many names.  Too many!  In fact, this is why many people hate science!  It's hard enough to make sense of this stuff, and then all the different various names just make it totally FUBAR!

Other names include:
C3 Cycle
Calvin Cycle
Stromal Reaction
Calvin-Benson Cycle
Dark Reaction (but it does not require darkness to happen!)
Light Independent Reaction (but ATP and NADPH require light, WTF!)
Light Not Required Reaction
The Carbon Fixation Process (Who knew carbon was broken?)


Most diagrams also miss out of a starting-entry point for Carbon.  Also this miracle takes place in the stroma which can be thought of as the cytoplasm of the chloroplast, or rather the 'Stromaplasm'.  Finally if you want to see how a 3-Carbon Molecule turns into a 5-Carbon Molecule please visit the SUGAR SHUFFLE LINK. It is the wackiest part of the process that is amazingly complex yet harmoniously perfect.

(Once again watch science video while listening to music!)

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