International A Level Biology / Photosynthesis

The Calvin cycle

Edexcel International A Level Biology (YBI11), chapter 14: Photosynthesis, specification point 5.4. Part of the full course.

Read the revision notes · International A Level Biology past papers

The Calvin cycle uses carbon dioxide, ATP and reduced NADP to make GALP, which can be used to build glucose and other molecules. Knowing where it happens and how carbon moves through the cycle helps you explain its steps and its dependence on light.

More lessons in Photosynthesis

• Photosynthesis: the overall reaction
• ATP: the immediate energy supply
• Chloroplast structure and function
• Absorption and action spectra
• Separating leaf pigments by chromatography
• The light-dependent reactions
• Cyclic and non-cyclic photophosphorylation
• What the plant makes from GALP
• Core practical 10: measuring the rate of photosynthesis
• Limiting factors: light, carbon dioxide, temperature and wavelength