The light-independent reactions are also known as what?

• A. Calvin Cycle
• B. Krebs Cycle
• C. Glycolysis
• D. Electron Transport Chain

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that photosynthesis has two linked sets of reactions: one uses light to make energy carriers, and the other uses those carriers to build sugars from carbon dioxide. The light-independent reactions take place without needing light directly and rely on ATP and NADPH from the light-dependent phase to fix CO2 into organic molecules, eventually producing sugars. This sequence is known as the Calvin Cycle. It’s named for the scientist who mapped the steps and occurs in the chloroplast stroma.

The other pathways listed belong to different processes: the Krebs Cycle is part of cellular respiration in mitochondria; glycolysis is the initial breakdown of glucose in the cytoplasm; the Electron Transport Chain is the final energy-producing stage of respiration that uses the energy carriers. So the light-independent reactions are the Calvin Cycle.