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Carbon Fixation

Definition

Carbon fixation is the process by which inorganic carbon (usually in the form of carbon dioxide) is converted to organic compounds by living organisms, primarily through photosynthesis in plants.

Analogy

Think of carbon fixation like a chef taking raw ingredients (in this case, carbon dioxide) and turning them into a delicious meal (organic compounds). Just as the chef uses heat and various cooking techniques to transform raw food, plants use sunlight and photosynthesis to convert carbon dioxide into usable energy.

Related terms

Photosynthesis: The process used by plants, algae and certain bacteria to harness energy from sunlight and turn it into chemical energy.

Chloroplasts: Organelles found in plant cells and eukaryotic algae that conduct photosynthesis. They absorb sunlight and use it in conjunction with water and carbon dioxide gas to produce food for the plant.

RuBisCO: An enzyme involved in the first major step of carbon fixation, a process by which atmospheric CO2 is converted by plants to energy-rich molecules such as glucose.