Spinacia oleracea L., commonly known as spinach is widely used in the scientific world as a model organism for many areas of study such as DNA synthesis and cellular respiration. Spinach is a good model system due to its cheap price, accessibility, rich chloroplast content, and easiness to handle and maintain. Like all plants, spinach uses photosynthesis in order to create energy and sustain life.
Photosynthesis occurs in the chloroplast and has two sequential stages; light-dependent reactions and light independent reactions. Light dependent reactions take place in the thylakoid membrane, and use the light energy photons from the sun to excite pigment in the cell and activate a high energy electron transport chain. ATP, O2, and NADPH are the products of the reactions that occur in the light-dependent stage of the photosystem. These products then are used in the light-independent stage, or the Calvin Cycle, which takes place in the stroma and creates GA3P and CO2.
Different types of plants and leaves experience different levels of chlorophyll. Because of this, it is thought that the amount of photosynthesis would increase in leaves with higher levels of chlorophyll, as chloroplasts are the main component of photosynthesis (Emerson, 1929). Spinach is a dark green leaf, containing high levels of chlorophyll. Conversely, Lactuca sativa L., romaine lettuce is a medium to light green leaf, containing medium to low levels of chlorophyll. Based on this knowledge, it can be predicted that spinach will photosynthesize faster than romaine lettuce. If this is correct, the data will show a higher change in absorbance over time in spinach than in romaine lettuce.
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