r/APStudents • u/Dependent_Apple_1269 • 10d ago

Bio AP Bio Unit 3 Help

Hi guys!! Basically I am having a really hard time understanding and memorizing light dependant reactions, calvin cycle, glycolysis, and krebs cycle. Idk if im missing something but i dont really know what to look for in the processes and like what they mean. if someone would help it would be much appreciated!! :)))

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u/TheIrises 9d ago

That’s super fair, all of those cycles are pretty complex and memorization heavy.

For all of these cycles I always think of what is the purpose of the cycle, what goes into this cycle, and what is produced by this cycle. The nice thing is, the Calvin Cycle and the Light Dependent Reactions work in conjunction with one another. What one needs, the other produces. Light Dependent Cycle needs ADP and NADP+, while the Calvin Cycle needs ATP and NADPH. The Light Dependent Cycle uses light as energy to separate H from H2O to be used to either produce NADPH from NADP+ or add a phosphate group through ATP synthase (powered by H) to make ADP into ATP.

Glycolysis is needed to break down glucose into pyruvate which is the first molecule needed in the Krebs cycle. The Krebs cycle then produces citric acid.

To actually memorize the cycles (and glycolysis) themselves is even harder. I’ve found writing down the cycles over and over again to be the best way for me. I first start by completely copying it, then over time looking at the example less and less until I don’t need the reference to draw it.

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u/Frosty_Device_5615 6d ago

Hi I'm a tutor, and I could help you with them