Biology 11th Edition by Gerald Audesirk,Teresa Audesirk,Bruce Byers

Exercise 11

Suppose an experiment is performed in which plant I is supplied with normal carbon dioxide but with water that contains radioactive oxygen atoms. Plant II is supplied with normal water but with carbon dioxide that contains radioactive oxygen atoms. Each plant is allowed to perform photosynthesis, and the oxygen gas and sugars produced are tested for radioactivity. Which plant would you expect to produce radioactive sugars, and which plant would you expect to produce radioactive oxygen gas? Explain why.