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photosynthesismore about photosynthesis

photosynthesis


  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Photosynthesis  \Pho`to*syn"the*sis\,  n.  (Plant  Physiol.) 
  The  process  of  constructive  metabolism  by  which  carbohydrates 
  are  formed  from  water  vapor  and  the  carbon  dioxide  of  the  air 
  in  the  chlorophyll-containing  tissues  of  plants  exposed  to 
  the  action  of  light.  It  was  formerly  called  {assimilation}, 
  but  this  is  now  commonly  used  as  in  animal  physiology.  The 
  details  of  the  process  are  not  yet  clearly  known  Baeyer's 
  theory  is  that  the  carbon  dioxide  is  reduced  to  carbon 
  monoxide,  which  uniting  with  the  hydrogen  of  the  water  in 
  the  cell,  produces  formaldehyde,  the  latter  forming  various 
  sugars  through  polymerization.  Vines  suggests  that  the 
  carbohydrates  are  secretion  products  of  the  chloroplasts, 
  derived  from  decomposition  of  previously  formed  proteids.  The 
  food  substances  are  usually  quickly  translocated  those  that 
  accumulate  being  changed  to  starch,  which  appears  in  the 
  cells  almost  simultaneously  with  the  sugars.  The  chloroplasts 
  perform  photosynthesis  only  in  light  and  within  a  certain 
  range  of  temperature,  varying  according  to  climate.  This  is 
  the  only  way  in  which  a  plant  is  able  to  organize 
  carbohydrates.  All  plants  without  a  chlorophyll  apparatus,  as 
  the  fungi,  must  be  parasitic  or  saprophytic.  -- 
  {Pho`to*syn*thet"ic},  a.  --  {Pho`to*syn*thet"ic*al*ly},  adv 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  photosynthesis 
  n  :  synthesis  of  compounds  with  the  aid  of  radiant  energy 
  (especially  in  plants) 




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