NEETBotanyPhotosynthesis in Higher Plants
What is the significance of the discovery of different CO2 fixation products in different plants?
Options
- AIt shows that all plants have the same CO2 fixation process
- BIt indicates that there are variations in photosynthetic pathways among plants
- CIt suggests that photosynthesis does not occur in all plants
- DIt implies that CO2 fixation is not important for plant growth
Correct answer
B. It indicates that there are variations in photosynthetic pathways among plants
Step-by-step solution
Let us now ask ourselves a question that was asked by the scientists who were struggling to understand the ‘dark reaction’. How many carbon atoms would a molecule have which after accepting (fixing) CO2 , would have 3 carbons (of PGA)? The studies very unexpectedly showed that the acceptor molecule was a 5-carbon ketose sugar – ribulose bisphosphate (RuBP). Did any of you think of this possibility? Do not worry; Scientists also tried to know whether all plants have PGA as the first product of CO2 fixation, or wheth