The concentration of CO₂ in Earth's atmosphere has increased over the past 200 years. If this trend continues, as seems likely, what could happen to photosynthesis? Ignore global warming and assume that the content of oxygen in the atmosphere will not change.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

C₃ plants use the enzyme Rubisco to fix CO₂, and Rubisco also has an affinity for O₂, which leads to photorespiration, a wasteful process that consumes energy and releases CO₂. Increasing the concentration of CO₂ in the atmosphere will decrease the amount of photorespiration, allowing C₃ plants to fix more CO₂ and increase their net yield. C₄ plants have a different mechanism for fixing CO₂ that does not involve Rubisco, so they are not affected by changes in the concentration of CO₂ in the atmosphere.

The Concentration of CO2 in Earth's Atmosphere Has Increased Over

The Concentration of CO₂ in Earth's Atmosphere Has Increased Over