Answer to Question #276090 in Cell Biology for Hutchii

Question

Is photosynthesis light-dependent or light-independent? Explain your answer briefly.

Answer 1

Light-dependent and light-independent reactions are two successive reactions that occur during photosynthesis. In light-dependent reactions, the energy from sunlight is absorbed by chlorophyll and converted into chemical energy in the form of electron carrier molecules like ATP and NADPH. Light energy is harnessed in Photosystems I and II, both of which are present in the thylakoid membranes of chloroplasts. In light-independent reactions (the Calvin cycle), carbohydrate molecules are assembled from carbon dioxide using the chemical energy harvested during the light-dependent reactions.

So, in general the process of photosynthesis is light-dependent, because one of its stage is light-dependent.