Unusual Form of Chlorophyll found to produce Photosynthesis using Infrared Light.

We all know the basic facts about photosynthesis, or at least we all think we do. Plants use the chemical chlorophyll to absorb sunlight and use its energy to turn carbon dioxide and water into sugar. This chemical process is called photosynthesis and is the main source of food for all life on Earth. At the same time photosynthesis also produces oxygen as a by-product. So for us animals photosynthesis provides both the food we eat as well as the oxygen we breath. Oh, and chlorophyll is also the reason plants are green. See image below of plant cells, the green blobs are called chloroplasts where the chlorophyll is concentrated.

Chlorophyll in Plant Cells (Credit: Wikipedia)

As you might guess, chlorophyll is a rather complicated chemical and not surprisingly there are several variant forms of the chemical. Looking at the chemical diagram below for chlorophyll-a the most common form, the roundish structure on the right hand side is called the chlorin magnesium ligand, which is shared by all forms of the chemical.

Chemical Diagram of Chlorophyll (Credit: Wikipedia)

Biochemists have identified six other slight, yet still distinct variant form of chlorophyll. These are labeled chlorophyll-b through -f with two different c’s, -c1 and -c2. Each of these variant chlorophylls absorbs different wavelengths of visible light more or less efficiently than the others with Chlorophyll-a generally being the most efficient, which is why it is by far the most common type. The image below shows the absorption efficiency versus wavelength for chlorophyll-a and chlorophyll-b.

Absorption Comparison of Chlorophyll-a vs. Chlorophyll-b (Credit: Wikipedia)

Of course there are wavelengths of light that are outside the visible spectrum. Infrared light is one of these and researchers have now discovered that chlorophyll-f is particularly good at using the energy of infrared light in what is being called ‘a new kind of photosynthesis’. In fact, under low light conditions photosynthesis using chlorophyll-f becomes dominant in certain species of cyanobacteria and blur-green algae.

These bacteria and algae are examples of life in extreme conditions, many live deep underwater in the boiling hot volcanic springs of Yellowstone or similar hostile environments. The ability to get energy from light that other ‘more advanced’ living things can’t use gives these single celled creatures the advantage they need to survive.

Life forms that can life in such extreme conditions are of great interest to space scientists who want to understand what life on other worlds, with very different environments, might be like. In fact Mars, further from the Sun with lower levels of light, might be the perfect environment for bacteria using the chlorophyll-f style of photosynthesis.

Some scientists have gone even further and are already suggesting that such bacteria be taken from Earth to Mars in order to start producing oxygen that one day people might breath. Importing and spreading such low light using, oxygen producing bacteria across the planet would be one of the first steps in Terraforming Mars for human habitation.

I’m certain that there’s still a great deal more to be learned about chlorophyll and the process of photosynthesis just as I’m certain scientists will keep studying it. And maybe someday soon we will find life on Mars or Europa or elsewhere and we will get the chance to learn how true aliens produce their food.

 

39 thoughts on “Unusual Form of Chlorophyll found to produce Photosynthesis using Infrared Light.”

  1. Thanks for the comment but I’m afraid that I’d like to keep my blog to myself. Good luck on yours however!
    Bob L

    Reply

  2. you’re in reality a good webmaster. The website loading velocity is
    incredible. It sort of feels that you are doing any unique trick.
    Moreover, The contents are masterpiece. you’ve performed a wonderful job in this topic!

    Reply

  3. First off I would like to say superb blog! I had a quick question which I’d like to ask if you do not mind.
    I was curious to find out how you center yourself and clear your head before writing.
    I have had difficulty clearing my thoughts in getting my ideas out there.
    I do enjoy writing but it just seems like the first 10
    to 15 minutes are lost just trying to figure out how to begin. Any suggestions or tips?
    Thanks!

    Reply

  5. Hey! This is my first visit to your blog! We are
    a group of volunteers and starting a new project in a community in the same
    niche. Your blog provided us valuable information to work on. You have done
    a marvellous job!

    Reply

  6. I’m really impressed with your writing skills as well as with the layout on your weblog.

    Is this a paid theme or did you modify it yourself?
    Anyway keep up the nice quality writing, it’s rare to see a nice
    blog like this one today.

    Reply

  7. Terrific work! That is the type of information that are supposed to be shared across the net.
    Shame on Google for now not positioning this submit upper!
    Come on over and consult with my web site . Thank you =)

    Reply

  9. I have been surfing on-line greater than three hours nowadays,
    but I never discovered any interesting article like
    yours. It is lovely worth sufficient for me. In my
    opinion, if all site owners and bloggers made good content
    material as you probably did, the net will likely be much
    more useful than ever before.

    Reply

  11. I loved as much as you will receive performed proper here.
    The cartoon is tasteful, your authored material stylish.
    nonetheless, you command get bought an nervousness over
    that you would like be turning in the following.
    sick unquestionably come more in the past once more as
    exactly the same just about very ceaselessly inside case you
    shield this hike.

    Reply

  15. wonderful publish, very informative. I ponder why the other specialists of this sector don’t
    realize this. You should continue your writing. I’m confident, you have a great readers’ base already!

    Reply

  17. Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is a very well written article.

    I’ll be sure to bookmark it and return to read more of your useful info.
    Thanks for the post. I will definitely return.

    Reply

  18. Right now it appears like Expression Engine is the best blogging platform available right
    now. (from what I’ve read) Is that what you are using on your blog?

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *