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dark reaction

American  

noun

  1. the phase of photosynthesis, not requiring light, in which carbohydrates are synthesized from carbon dioxide.


dark reaction British  

noun

  1. botany the stage of photosynthesis involving the reduction of carbon dioxide and the dissociation of water, using chemical energy stored in ATP: does not require the presence of light Compare light reaction

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

dark reaction Scientific  
  1. Any of the chemical reactions that take place during the second stage of photosynthesis and do not require light. During the dark reactions, energy released from ATP (created by the light reactions) drives the fixation of carbon from carbon dioxide in organic molecules. The Calvin cycle forms part of the dark reactions. As long as ATP is available, the dark reactions can occur in darkness or in light.

  2. Compare light reaction See more at Calvin cycle photosynthesis


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

However, the term dark reaction can be misleading because it implies incorrectly that the reaction only occurs at night or is independent of light, which is why most scientists and instructors no longer use it.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

Light images may be given by feeble hypnotists of which but the dark reaction can be detected only once in a way.

From Inferences from Haunted Houses and Haunted Men by Harris, John William