The primary function of the Calvin cycle is to convert carbon dioxide and other compounds into glucose, a type of sugar that plants use for energy and growth.
During this process, which takes place in the chloroplasts of plant cells, the cycle uses energy derived from ATP and NADPH (produced in the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis) to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide. The cycle involves a series of reactions that ultimately transform carbon dioxide and a five-carbon molecule called ribulose bisphosphate (RuBP) into glucose through several intermediates.
In simpler terms, think of the Calvin cycle as nature’s way of turning the air we breathe into food for plants. This cycle is essential for the process of photosynthesis and plays a crucial role in the global carbon cycle, making it vital for life on Earth.