Calvin Cycle
Definition
The Calvin Cycle is a set of chemical reactions that take place in chloroplasts during photosynthesis. It uses the energy from light to convert carbon dioxide into glucose.
Analogy
Think of the Calvin Cycle like a factory assembly line. The raw materials (carbon dioxide, ATP, and NADPH) come in, they go through a series of processes (the steps of the cycle), and out comes the finished product (glucose).
Related terms
Photosynthesis: The process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods with the help of chlorophyll pigments.
Chloroplasts: Organelles found in plant cells and eukaryotic algae that conduct photosynthesis.
Glucose: A simple sugar that is an important energy source in living organisms and is a component of many carbohydrates.
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