AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -The 6-carbon molecule formed by carbon fixation immediately splits into two, 3-carbon molecules called 3-phosphoglycerate (3-PGA). In step two, 3-PGA is converted into glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (G3P), a chemical used to make glucose and other sugars. Creating G3P is the ultimate objective of the Calvin cycle.

Detailed explanation-2: -Overall, glycolysis converts one six-carbon molecule of glucose into two three-carbon molecules of pyruvate.

Detailed explanation-3: -The resulting 6-carbon molecule is unstable, so it immediately splits into two 3-carbon molecules. The 3 carbons in the first stable molecule of this pathway give this largest group of plants the name “C3.”

Detailed explanation-4: -Because the carbohydrate molecule has six carbon atoms, it takes six turns of the Calvin cycle to make one carbohydrate molecule (one for each carbon dioxide molecule fixed).