Nature's smallest factory: The Calvin cycle - Cathy Symington

View full lesson: ed.ted.com/lessons/nature-s-sm...
A hearty bowl of cereal gives you the energy to start your day, but how exactly did that energy make its way into your bowl? It all begins with photosynthesis, the process that converts the air we breathe into energizing glucose. Cathy Symington details the highly efficient second phase of photosynthesis -- called the Calvin cycle -- which converts carbon dioxide into sugar with some clever mix-and-match math.
Lesson by Cathy Symington, animation by Flaming Medusa Studios Inc.

[@kaihsiung5966]

If you told someone that their food contains Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate 9/10 they would be like "ah the corporations are putting poison in our foods"

[@sweetoot97bryn]

so true haha xD

[@TruMystery]

And if she is a white housewife she would CALL THE MANGER

[@CONCERTMANchicago]

Old Man complaining of cold Soup.

[@Amy-se5ld]

Lmaoooooooooo

[@marypusineri6291]

The Idiot Reviewer then how are we not fucking dead?

[@tamborsitamy]

cramming up for my bio test

[@Fadilanse]

same here, not alone, thank god.

[@mariaurbina3973]

Punk Idiot sameeee

[@klarakoleva3728]

+1

[@journeychaktah4129]

it never ends. I have an exam in 5 hours.

[@laurab9394]

Same

[@jacquelinecouIson]

This video helped me understand the calvin cycle so much better than any other video!!! I like how you actually used a factory setting to explain what happens in each step! Thanks so much!

[@srenz2802]

omg same! i have a bio test coming up and this totally helped me finally understand the calvin cycle!

[@vegito9382]

You are very right

[@virupannamedikinal]

True

[@leah9389]

damn, ted must be tired of saving high school students right before their tests.

[@baileyroddog]

Now it’s second year college biology students, cough cough

[@alihayder9]

@@baileyroddog exactly 😂😂

[@petergriffinsstaircase5309]

It’s horrible that I’m watching this in the middle of taking a test

[@landen4901]

@@baileyroddog me except a first year bio student

[@victoriaalmquist8095]

Am I in college? Yes. Am I finding this ridiculously useful? Yes. Thanks so much! -A struggling physics student

[@riddhi_jha0090]

Me 2. Physics always lags me behind.

[@just_ise4418]

@@riddhi_jha0090 it is from our biology chapter, and dude how confused all of us are

[@theoccasionalsnickerdoodle2525]

Physics?

[@gamingbrowser6597]

After reading this this comment i was confused into physics and biology 🤕🤕

[@methane385]

I am in 10th and this is in bio. So why u are studying bio?

[@danbrellis]

It's always nice to be reminded of these essential cycles. Watching this video make you gasp in awe at the complexity of life.

[@Ardeann316]

Sure does! :)

[@vaishaligoel2321]

It's not complex at all lmao

[@thatnike2604]

@@vaishaligoel2321 maybe your brain isn't. But everything else is

[@TigerChess2]

@@thatnike2604 brain is even more complex than photosynthesis because photosynthesis is only a part of the complex cell. And brain is made of millions of specialized cells like this in a unique fashion making it very complex

[@SriramPatnaik-bv7ob]

He's talking about vaishaligoel's brain.@@TigerChess2

[@chang.stanley]

Is that why power plants are named after plants?

[@alinimeri3973]

asking the real questions

[@Sebkarp0]

Wow you just opened up my eyes to a new world xD

[@ItsaMe64]

Maybe power plants ARE plants

[@raisaraisa6948]

i was just thinking bout power rangers xD

[@spacet1m3]

Fbi texted you already

[@marxiewasalittlegirl]

This is 10 billion times better than my bio text book.

[@thearthhh]

true

[@countingstars8623]

But i love my Ncert 11th Biology Textbook, thanks to my teacher Tarun Sir.

[@marxiewasalittlegirl]

@@countingstars8623 Good. I didn't understand this part from the book, if you did then why are you watching this vid

[@apekshan]

Yesssss, its like the ncert hates u or something. It literal feels so useless to read it without having some background knowledge, or watching a few videos….@@marxiewasalittlegirl

[@michelleacojedo4053]

I love you. Although I had to watch it 13 times I understand it. thanks

[@userr_aa]

Same here, not because of the video byt bcs of my average brain lol

[@Dark_Vader-gb4bd]

Same

[@aumnika]

Thank you TED for trying so hard to make biochemistry interesting.

[@bluesky72919]

👍👍 best video I've seen for the Calvin cycle

[@starrysky1588]

same here!!

[@nadjoua9701]

same

[@srenz2802]

same! i am finally ready for my bio test!

[@cynsegura]

A little confusing when you get towards the middle, but helped me so much! My professor made it sound so much more complicated than it needed to be. :/

[@chelleshell7033]

@Cynthia Segura ikr I learn so much more just from a textbook and some videos

[@just_ise4418]

@@chelleshell7033 same :D. And also it is our first time encountering this, so it is quite confusing

[@Dark_Vader-gb4bd]

@@just_ise4418 Agreed

[@aljaireobiena9372]

The Calvin cycle is explained in this video in a very basic but informative manner. This video taught me a lot about its purpose, the stages involved in producing glucose and oxygen, and the raw materials required for this process. I also learned that this cycle produces energy throughout your life, making it an important part of our daily lives. The two raw materials that are used in this procedure are CO2 and RuBP. The enzyme binds one carbon molecule to RuBP, giving rise to six carbon sequences. In this sequence, each of the three carbons is broken into two phosphoglycerates, or PGAs. ATP then generates electricity by attaching hydrogen to each PGA and converting it to G3P. The cycle includes 36 carbon atoms, of which 30 carbon (10 G3Ps) are used to recreate the whole process while the remaining 6 are used to make glucose. This shows that this cycle pretty much sustains itself by reusing the 30 carbon as a starting material to keep the cycle working.

[@kirkpreston8869]

I am a 6th grade science teacher. I use videos from KZbin to augment my lessons. I must say your channel's videos are most often the best ones I can find about any scientific topic (and other topics too) My students also focus on yours the best, and generally enjoy them the best. I also don't have to worry there is content or language in them that the students don't need to be seeing. Thanks for the work you all do, and keep it going!

[@asaxena9921]

That's really cool and I respect your work for giving an education to the students, but you're not teaching something as complex as the Calvin cycle to 6th graders are you? Perhaps the grading system is different from where you are, but I'd say things like these should be approached by grade 10 or 11 only.

[@user-zn8fm8kw5v]

There teaching this stuff in 6th grade now?!?!

[@jvminrm]

​@@user-zn8fm8kw5vright?? Like I'm studying this in 11th grade

[@rudrapratap3294]

​@@jvminrmever heard of asians or indians?

[@SriramPatnaik-bv7ob]

@@rudrapratap3294 I'm Indian, and I can assure you, I didn't know this stuff until I was in high school. And I'm speaking for 90-95% of Indian students here (based on personal observation)

[@njokumatilda7056]

Am a Biology teacher, and trying to really breakdown this Calvin Cycle as simple as it can be, this video is a life saver! Thanks 👍

[@megs9339]

Why can't my school be simplified the subject like them lol

[@ajfariscal8687]

Maegan Tropper IKR This is the reason my exams where bad at Science because I didn't understand it much.Why didn't this video came 5 months ago 😢 I would have passed the exam :'(.

[@felixli4306]

Simplified? This is hardly the whole picture, nor even a quarter of it

[@dontforgettoflosskidz6985]

felix li , thats why she said "simplify", they didn't need to explain the 'hardly whole' like what ur sayin just to make us understand... Bahla ka kung di mo maintindihan.

[@jimtan7999]

Because they need u to see the whole picture, but also in detail. This video is just the rough outline; sometimes things can't be simplified so much

[@duckymomo7935]

First of all, this is simplified from more detailed descriptions Secondly, they have to animate it: schools have to show a diagram.

[@rishikavashishtha6556]

Seriously, a big thank you from the bottom of my heart. I accidentally stumbled upon this courtesy to KZbin recommendations and it is precisely what I needed. Keep up the good work Ted Ed !!

[@mariellayebandelacruz8642]

I'm going to thank you for the rest of my life! For my past years in high school, this has been the best video ever made to explain the very complex process of the Calvin cycle :D

[@taqwaal-dughaishi1598]

me 2

[@tomie4630]

I'm crying ;-; I feel like i can conquer the world when I finally understand this

[@FranzTTEVES]

I love how TED-Ed made Calvin cycle's explanation easy to understand. Thanks!

[@IPbeatsChannel]

This was one of the most massively helpful videos I have ever seen. Thank you for restoring my faith in my ability to graduate.

[@md.ayaanahmed5152]

Kudos to the creator of this lesson, narrator and animator. Great job guys!

[@havannacox1633]

this made more sense than any other video ive watched on the topic - i was able to follow along as you put the pieces together. love it

[@ralphdaryl5818]

Rubisco... Sounds like a cookie company. Great video Ted!

[@emilioparra5513]

ralph daryl Cedro to me it sounds like a fancy grape juice company

[@whatabouttheearth]

Sitting in San Francisco listening to Sisqo cooking my Rubisco in some Crisco?

[@missingno9]

There's a company in the Philippines called Rebisco that makes wafer sandwiches

[@afiyasyed1666]

do you mean nabisco? that's an american cookie company

[@commentsanitizer7929]

@@afiyasyed1666 Sobisco is an Indian biscuit company

[@heartstar376]

Thank you TED-Ed! That was extremely helpful!

[@tuskinekinase]

I really love the Seussical illustration style. Yay TED-Ed!

[@chicagotypewriter2094]

I like that word Seussical!

[@shriyanshpandey112]

I am a biology student but never understood intuitively the 6 Calvin cycles happening and regenerating the RuBP part BEFORE this video. Thank you Ted-ed

[@kaziapar7548]

How beautiful this video is?! Thank you TED-Ed for this one.

[@madhumithaayyappan5277]

You just made this topic a whole lot easier. Thanks!

[@suparnabasak3931]

Addison Anderson- excellent lingual usage to make things clearer and more connectable to the visuals. Fleming Medusa Studios- I must say , the Lord has gifted you this special creativity to help average students like us find the subject interesting. God bless you, y'all are so talented and creative. Students of your schools are really privileged.

[@arimukh28]

This video is so good.... My bio teacher could never explain the complex calvin cycle in such a simple fashion and now the concepts are glued to my mind.... Great video.

[@dipteeshukla7]

so passionately explained! THANK YOU FOR THE EFFORTS!

[@angelalabaniego6912]

I like how the video represents the process of the second step of photosyntesis, the Calvin Cycle, in a factory-like setting. It makes the process more relatable to the audience, as they are familiar with what happens inside a factory. It explains the processes that happen in the chloroplast and how they turn the carbon gas into a six-carbon solid like glucose. While I've heard the terms mentioned once or many times before, they are still very profound to me. This makes it difficult to remember and easily forgotten if not properly discussed. Now onto the processes involved. The video shows the steps nicely in a way that a learner who is studying photosynthesis for the first time can easily understand the lesson. The thing that I really learned, and I think sticks to me the most, is that it is efficient that the Calvin Cycle and other cycles produce and reuse the elements they need in the process. As stated by the video, if these processes are linear, it will require more time and work to manufacture the things nature relies upon.

[@TheHairiRct3]

Great explanation on this cycle using manufacturing concept! I'm not a biologist student, just an engineer that are curious on how plants made glucose

[@justinmacclaretcruz3888]

This video has taught me a lot. It gave me a better understanding of the Calvin Cycle. It discussed the calvin cycle's procedure and how it works. I also learned about the different stages. The calvin cycle's role is to produce organic compounds that plants require.

[@sajidtaha2384]

i forget photosynthesis every 6 months and come here and it all makes sense again . thanks ted ed

[@erlajade7696]

Thank you so much for helping students like me. God bless.

[@chans1dollarhaircut121]

As a pre med who's cramming before an exam, this helped a lot. Thanks!

[@gizelleidmilao4326]

This video help me a lot in understanding how the Calvin Cyle works. It was very detailed and very informative. I also learned that the Calvin cycle has four main steps: carbon fixation, reduction phase, carbohydrate formation, and regeneration phase.

[@lindseyreichheld5198]

I teach high school biology and this video has made explaining the Calvin cycle so much easier! I show it ahead of walking through the cycle, and then again after the walk through. Thanks!!

[@Balaskh]

Superb visualization aid for students! I've had a biology degree for 10 years now and I'm struggling to determine if I had forgotten about this or if I never really understood it this well to begin with.

[@nicoleannetolentino304]

This video helped me a lot to understand the Calvin Cycle. I had a bit of hard time of understanding the middle part but as I kept on watching I came to understand it too. I realized that the photosynthesis is a actually a hard, complex, busy and have a repeated Cycle which helps us gain energy that we need. The enzyme Rubisco starts the cycle by receiving Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and 5 carbons (RuBP) which results as 6 carbons. The 6 carbons needs to split into 2 chains which contains 3 carbons each or known as PGAs. ATP sends energy to PGAs and NaDPH send hydrogen each PGAs which makes it 3 Phosphates or G3Ps. G3Ps will now form the Glucose as it needs 6 carbons that the G3Ps has but there is not only have one production place. There are 5 more which gives much more RuBP that they can create G3Ps for the Glucose and that is how we receive our energy through Calvin Cycle

[@dianerotono1429]

The Calvin Cycle was explained to me in this video. Photosynthesis's second stage. This video also described how the Calvin cycle works and why it is so important. I've learned the stages of it through watching it. And I'm having a great time learning while watching this video.

[@niakirojina1349]

god bless this voice actor, his voice just makes the information stick to my brain like superglue.

[@surandshashow4030]

The factory setting with some characters taught Calvin really well

[@cellyf6413]

This is the best!

[@MichaelHarrisIreland]

Thanks for spreading knowledge. Found this helped my understand photosynthesis better as a layman.

[@midorinchan]

Thank you, TedEd, for re-teaching me all of the things I forgot about from freshman year but eventually became curious about after all

[@zhouqiiin]

This helped me understand my report for tomorrow. Thank you! ♡

[@lightyoshiru9490]

TED-Ed Where. Were. You. When I needed help with my biology class last semester?? I could have used this to at least get a C+ on my test over exactly this! lol

[@ZainA2]

No joke, Exact same thing here! This would have really helped me in my Bio class.

[@rickbowerman204]

Hi

[@NACYQIANsherry2]

you guys can check out crash crouse biology for bio help

[@holley_ej3199]

NACY QIAN You there. Yes. *nods approvingly* crash course is indeed one of the greatest things on youtube

[@marlonivancarranzabarrient787]

even when you used this videos in class the main problem is the lack of attention of the students. to a degree. you came to watch this video, paid attention and were interested in it so you learn. if the video was force upon you then depending on your attitude you may not paid attention you might be distracted by class mate ect also you can pause and repeat by yourself the video.

[@charlietheteacher7795]

This is clearly designed - wow! We have an amazing Creator to make such a precise, efficient cycle.

[@redraprs8828]

visual of this actual process makes it perfect and including detailed carbon atom numbers makes it even more remarkable💫

[@mamacitakova9625]

My substitute teacher spent an hour on this and I can't believe it only took a 5 minute video to finally understand the process of photosynthesis.

[@sylvestergharold7265]

Not quite. The other half to photosynthesis is using light itself as a power source to power the Calvin cycle. The important bits of the light-dependent reactions are as follows: chlorophyll is used to absorb light energy which then splits water into oxygen gas and hydrogen (the oxygen leaving to enter the atmosphere). The hydrogen ions then get attached to ADP and NADP+ which are transformed into their energized forms, ATP and NADPH. The energy in these molecules are then used to power the Calvin cycle like shown in the video. If you can't tell, I'm a bit nervous for my AP Bio test I have next week lol

[@milkycollective331]

what was your sub supposed to do they're just a sub

[@mamacitakova9625]

@@sylvestergharold7265 HAHA you sure memorized everything, this was a few months ago so I already took my final exam and I graduated ! This video helped me alot and I think I watched the Amoeba sisters as well for photosynthesis. My textbook actually explained alot but I needed someone to explain it to me like I'm a five year old lmao . I hope you did well on your test .

[@mamacitakova9625]

@@milkycollective331 Welp I don't blame him ,half the class including me were asking questions because the concept was all over the place lol so that could be why it took so long .

[@demolisherman1763]

Did any body notice that it was pretty much a doctor Suss world

[@michelleu.8925]

That was the point, of course everyone noticed, your coment shouln't exist...

[@thesweetembraceofnonexiste3740]

@@michelleu.8925 Yes, how DARE their COMENT (sic.) exist?

[@heretical_cuttlefish]

DemolisherMan love doctor Seuss

[@uxleumas]

yeah

[@jacobmekholloartificio8006]

I've learned a lot from this video. It helped me understand more about the Calvin Cycle. It explained the process of calvin cycle, and how it works. I also learned about the stages of it. Also the function of the calvin cycle which is to make organic products that plants need.

[@mayanicolecoligado2158]

I learned from this video is about Calvin cycle and how it works, it show me the detailed part of the Photosynthesis that i actually now understand. I also learned the 3 stages of the process of carbons and its description. I also learned ATP and NADPH are used to fox the carbon into sugar. Watching this was the easiest way to learn more about the calvin cycle. And this is a big help to understand the Photosynthesis and how it works with the second step.

[@ltericdavis2237]

Love the Dr. Seuss inspired animations.

[@YajuSenpai11451]

Cathy Symington is actually my biology teacher(Trinity College University of Melbourne) and she showed us this video during class

[@MiCutiie]

Visuals are very helpful. Thanks!

[@justinandraegamas2283]

In this video, I've learned so much information about The Calvin Cycle. The process of the Calvin Cycle is explained and some terms are stated that helped me identify these molecules. I also learned that Calvin Cycle works like a sustainable production line and it means that it reused materials from the cycle. In this cycle, it produces the exact number of elements and precise processes to keep it working endlessly. I also learned that calvin cycle is required for all living things on the earth. It is a cycle that just revolves in our life.

[@patyovando2586]

You saved me from failing my bio test!! Thank you soooo much!!

[@yowzciene3544]

I came here for my BIO exam tomorrow. thank you for this video. you just saved a life😆🙏

[@hymnz100]

So far the video that made it very easy to understand. Thank you 🙏🏼

[@ritikyadav2076]

Animinations were amazing

[@unknownworld6171]

Best explanation in history of Calvin cycle explanation

[@difivi1]

Thank you, I'm learning The Calvin cycle in Biology and this really helped me

[@johnlloydramos8087]

This video taught me a lot about the Calvin cycle, which helped me understand it better. It explains the Calvin cycle process and how it works. I've also discovered its stages. I also discovered that the Calvin cycle is necessary for all living things on the planet. It is also a component of photosynthesis, which is the process by which plants and other autotrophs convert sunlight and carbon dioxide into food. On the other hand, they would be unable to exist in the lack of food and energy.

[@dina5115]

This is the best video of Calvin cycle I can find so far!! Thank you very much..helped a lot :-)

[@lavanyadutt9631]

Thanks, this video helped me a lot to understand THE CALVIN CYCLE so much better than any other video...

[@ridhwanabdurrahman5416]

Thanks a lot buddy! You're the Bio MVP

[@yyzhg6894]

THANK YOU GUYS!!! a simple but clear explain of the calvin cycle which is complicated in school

[@jessmatthewestudillo5077]

I've learned a lot in this video. The Calvin cycle is a process that plants and algae use to convert carbon dioxide from the air into sugar, which autotrophs require to grow. The Calvin cycle is essential to all living things on Earth. The Calvin cycle provides energy and food to plants. This video helped me understand the calvin cycle far better than any other, and I appreciate how you used a factory setting to explain what happens in each step!

[@johnhaz9109]

amazing! thank you so much for making it easier to understand!!!!

[@fadjy]

this helped me so much, my teacher teaches too fast and I don't want to sound stupid and ask too many questions.

[@AlwaysFreshification]

Fadjy Valentin Never be afraid to ask questions, that's how you acquire knowledge!

[@vincentjoyhere]

When you have internet, there is absolutely no reason for being confused and left with half knowledge and too many questions. You can google your every doubts. Google will never be tired of answering your questions or will never judge you. You just need to have the curiosity and dedication to amalgamate information from different websites, thats it.

[@slashequal7957]

This cideo is like a summarization of the Calvin Cycle but with a lot of info. Thanks for this video!

[@sheebanaveen941]

This video is good enough for everyone to understand the Calvin cycle .I liked the factory setting....quite innovative

[@chase121702]

Just a note: The oxygen atoms don't implode into the glucose, they're rereleased into the air. Great vid though!

[@edgarpetrosyan8824]

chase121702 oxygen atoms that are released into the air are derived from h20 not co2

[@tresnamathurin2780]

they actually do because the first molecule that is formed glycerate 3 phosphate (PGA) is an acid and therefore the COO ion which comes from the CO2 is needed .

[@skandaphaniraj1896]

@@edgarpetrosyan8824 Correct

[@just_ise4418]

wow, geniuses

[@DanksterPaws]

@@edgarpetrosyan8824 Thats interesting! Meaning Plants dont turn co2 into oxygen as everyone says, but instead uses water to make the oxygen

[@roufelf5251]

you are amaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaazzzzzing , thank you

[@natachatirado2972]

I have a microbial biology exam this week and this was the summary of 20 powerpoint slides. AMAZING.

[@letsgetreal2501]

Awesome! It really makes the concept so easy to understand

[@GreenGoblinCoryintheHouse]

Hey,I remember studying this in highschool. Biology was fun.

[@choudhary_harsha_]

Any Indian preparing for neet!?

[@Nyummm270]

Meeee

[@AshaSanthosh-uh8im]

✋🏼

[@willsonbasyal7883]

Brilliantly presented!!

[@paologabrielplata9782]

Thankyou, I learned a lot about how Calvin Cycle works. It has 4 main steps 1.) Carbon Fixation 2.) Reduction Phase 3.) Carbohydrate Formation 4.) Regeneration phase. Also in the video also mention the 2 steps in Photosynthesis, The energy form by the sun, and Calvin Cycle. I also learn it's function. Calvin Cycle is important in our environment & other species. This video lesson is very knowledgeable and informative.

[@1mag1neCup]

this is amazing !! thank you soo much 💞 -A struggling 8th grader 😅

[@bhatishfaq2573]

Try to understand from books it takes hours to digest. Here u teach it in 5 minutes. Great!!!

[@markrabiballino1471]

This video presentation taught me a lot regarding the Calvin cycle on how the factory happens inside the tree

[@nicolmontoya7482]

This short video lecture taught me a lot about how the Calvin cycle works and everything from the animation to how it is delivered makes the subject more engaging and understandable. This lesson taught me about the second stage of photosynthesis, also known as the "Calvin cycle", which is the focus of the lesson. The Calvin cycle, as depicted in the video, works as a sustainable production chain with three main stages: carbon absorption, reduction and regeneration. molecules in RuBP, resulting in six carbons The three carbons of this sequence NADPH attaches hydrogen to each PGA carbon, 6 of which are used to produce Every living thing on Earth, especially plants, depends on the Calvin cycle for energy and food, as I have discovered.

[@AHMEDAli-pr3wt]

complected cycle i have to watch 10 times however thank you very much of explanation

[@danielac4762]

It's nice to remember this stuff! 🍃🌞💧

[@dongkonlee4045]

Thanks so much Ted-ed!!! you guys are the best!

[@thatgirlstephanie6023]

never knew a 45 min lecture could be crammed into a 5 min video 😭😭 i love you ted talkkkk

[@BluueBiru]

I'm happy you guys made at least 1 serious video amongst all the April Fools jokes.

[@EuclydesNetto]

or did they!?!

[@SuperNumber420]

The calvin cycle is a lie

[@zone07]

and then we made plastic and screwed up the cycle.

[@rhovinyandoc7946]

In this topic I've learned what is Calvin cycle and how it works. Calvin cycle is very important not just for me but for all living things. It is the process were the algae and other plants use to make carbon dioxide from air to glucose (sugar). It is also gave energy to our food example in the video. This lesson give me the idea on what is Calvin cycle and I learned a lot.

[@Lin-desnoon]

This video helped me understand photosynthesis and explained it in detail.

[@zebzbebz]

THE BEST EXPLANATION EVER! 😀

[@adilakshmiveesam1155]

Gaes

[@MI-zt1wv]

I learned more from this five minute tutorial than I learned in my bio class xD

[@karthigakavin5125]

Wow such an amazing conceptual video thanks for creating this. I can understand this topic much better than i did earlier

[@bohdhalhu4667]

I love this video!! I was struggling to learn this concept for my A levels but this makes it so easy to understand!