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WonderPlant evolution fact1,745 of 1,961

C4 photosynthesis evolved independently many times, concentrating carbon dioxide inside leaves and helping plants such as maize and sorghum thrive in hot, bright conditions.

Carbon concentration in plants

EvolutionClimateFoodBiologyScience

Why it matters

The idea in context

C4 photosynthesis is biochemical architecture. Instead of accepting the wastefulness of ordinary photosynthesis under heat and low carbon dioxide, C4 plants evolved a way to concentrate CO2 around the enzyme that fixes it. The pathway appeared repeatedly in different plant lineages, which makes it an evolutionary refrain. Some of humanity's most productive crops carry that refrain in every leaf.

Türkçe

Aynı kart, başka bir dilde.

C4 fotosentezi birçok kez bağımsız olarak evrildi; yaprak içinde karbondioksiti yoğunlaştırarak mısır ve sorgum gibi bitkilerin sıcak, parlak koşullarda gelişmesine yardım etti.
Bitkilerde karbon yoğunlaştırma

C4 fotosentezi biyokimyasal mimaridir. C4 bitkileri, sıcak ve düşük CO2 koşullarında sıradan fotosentezin israfını kabullenmek yerine, CO2'yi onu bağlayan enzimin çevresinde yoğunlaştırmanın bir yolunu evrimleştirdi. Bu yolak farklı bitki soylarında tekrar tekrar ortaya çıktı; bu yüzden evrimsel bir nakarat gibidir. İnsanlığın en verimli bazı ekinleri, bu nakaratı her yaprağında taşır.

Source trail

Read beyond the card.

Background reading: C4 carbon fixationAttribution and context are revised when stronger evidence appears. Corrections are welcome through the editorial page.
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