Unit 3 Photosynthesis SAC?

[sum1]

Anyone done their photosynthesis sac yet? Got mine on Monday and was just wondering if someone could share a few tips and advice. We went to GTAC for this sac and apparently it will mainly on photosynthesis. Btw how would you explain why chlorophyll a is considered to be important? I understand why but my wording is just terrible

[Stick]

To answer your question, chlorophyll a is the only pigment that is directly used to provide chemical energy in the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis. Chlorophyll b and carotenoids can still absorb the radiant energy of sunlight, but this chemical energy has to be passed onto chlorophyll a in order for it to be used.

[sum1]

Thank you^^ Also, why is fucoxanthin the main accesory pigment in sea plants whilst chlorophyll b is the main accessory pigment in land plants?

[Stick]

^ I wouldn't know the answer to that question (I've never even heard of fucoxanthin) so I assume you wouldn't need to know that. If this came up on an assessment and I needed to tackle this question logically, I'd say that fucoxanthin is a pigment that attracts the radiant energy of sunlight more strongly. Sea plants, being underwater, still require sunlight energy for photosynthesis (although I think some sea plants fit in the protozoa category) but obviously this is quite difficult as there is a large body of water between them and the sun.

[psyxwar]

^ I wouldn't know the answer to that question (I've never even heard of fucoxanthin) so I assume you wouldn't need to know that. If this came up on an assessment and I needed to tackle this question logically, I'd say that fucoxanthin is a pigment that attracts the radiant energy of sunlight more strongly. Sea plants, being underwater, still require sunlight energy for photosynthesis (although I think some sea plants fit in the protozoa category) but obviously this is quite difficult as there is a large body of water between them and the sun.

It probably relates to differences in wavelengths of light that they absorb -- it absorbs blue-green and yellow-green wavelengths, meaning that the underwater algae which don't have as much exposure to light as land plants are able to absorb and use more wavelengths of light.

[Stick]

Ah, thanks for the correction. Did you learn this in class, and would you deem it important for the assessments?

[psyxwar]

Ah, thanks for the correction. Did you learn this in class, and would you deem it important for the assessments?

LOL nah I googled the pigments and made an educated guess. I really doubt it'll be on the assessments.

[sum1]

Would it be right to say that chlorophyll b is the main accessory pigment in land plants because of its broader spectrum hence absorbs a broader wavelength?

[psyxwar]

Would it be right to say that chlorophyll b is the main accessory pigment in land plants because of its broader spectrum hence absorbs a broader wavelength?

Yeah I'd think so. The reason why it's the main one as opposed to fucoxanthin is probably because they have plenty of light and therefore weren't pressured to develop more efficient pigments (like the one in the algae that's able to absorb the green wavelengths reflected by chlorophyll a)

[Smiley_]

Yeah I'd think so. The reason why it's the main one as opposed to fucoxanthin is probably because they have plenty of light and therefore weren't pressured to develop more efficient pigments (like the one in the algae that's able to absorb the green wavelengths reflected by chlorophyll a)

what are other people doing for their sacs?

[Bad Student]

Is it necessary to know all this stuff about chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and fuckoxanthin?

[psyxwar]

Is it necessary to know all this stuff about chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and fuckoxanthin?

I'd think you should definitely learn about chlorophyll a and the general function of accessory pigments, but yeah, I really doubt you need to know about that last one.

[Bad Student]

My photosynthesis SAC is tomorrow and I've never heard of the different types of chlorophyll or accessory pigments!!!

[Stick]

Is it necessary to know all this stuff about chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and fuckoxanthin?

lol

[psyxwar]

My photosynthesis SAC is tomorrow and I've never heard of the different types of chlorophyll or accessory pigments!!!

If you haven't covered it in class I really doubt they'd cover it in the SAC. Just to be safe though, you might want to do some light reading on the topic.