Photosynthesis is the process by which plants and certain other organisms use the energy from sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. This glucose is then used by the plant as an energy source to fuel its growth and development.

The key steps of photosynthesis are:

1. Light absorption: Chlorophyll and other pigments in the plant’s leaves absorb sunlight, particularly the red and blue wavelengths.

2. Light reactions: The absorbed light energy is used to split water molecules, releasing electrons that are then used to produce energy-carrying molecules like ATP and NADPH.

3. Carbon fixation: The energy-rich molecules from the light reactions are used to convert carbon dioxide into organic compounds like glucose through a series of chemical reactions known as the Calvin cycle.

4. Glucose production: The glucose produced during carbon fixation is then used by the plant for cellular respiration to produce ATP, or is stored for later use in growth and development.

Photosynthesis is a fundamental process that sustains most life on Earth by producing the oxygen we breathe and the food that feeds the planet’s ecosystems. It’s an incredibly important biological process that has fascinated scientists for centuries.