Suppose a plant is given water labeled with the radioactive isotope 18O and normal, unlabeled CO2. What products would you expect to see containing this isotope after the plant had been allowed to photosynthesize for a while? What if the plant had been given CO2 labeled with 18O and normal water. Explain your answers.
2007-01-31 14:10:42 · 2 answers · asked by fire 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Stud muffin isn't exactly right.
If you label the H20 you'll end up with radiolabeled O2 as your end product, as he said.
However, if you label the CO2 you'll end up with both radiolabeled sugars and radiolabeled O2, because the CO2 donates one oxygen atom to the O2 waste product and retains one in the forming sugar molecule.
2007-02-01 01:58:52 · answer #1 · answered by floundering penguins 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the oxygen from water produces the waste product of photosynthesis (molecular oxygen), therefore the 18O in water would end up as waste product. CO2 is the foundation for the sugar produced by the calvin cycle thus this radiolabled oxygen would remain in the plant as a carbohydrate source.
2007-01-31 22:17:40 · answer #2 · answered by stud muffin 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋