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Six facts about the light independent reaction

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  • These reactions take place in the chloroplast stroma. They form the Calvin cycle.

  • First ribulose biphosphate reacts with carbon dioxide to form glycerate phosphate (GP).

  • ATP and reduced NADP from the light reaction convert GP to glyceraldehyde phosphate (GAP).

  • GAP enters pathways that produce a variety of organic molecules.

  • Some GAP regenerates ribulose biphosphate.

  • Some plants follow a different pathway to increase the efficiency of carbon fixation.