Any of the chemical reactions that take place during the second stage of photosynthesis and do not require light. During the dark reactions, energy released from ATP (created by the light reactions) drives the fixation of carbon from carbon dioxide in organic molecules. The Calvin Cycle forms part of the dark reactions. As long as ATP is available, the dark reactions can occur in darkness or in light.

1. Dark
Reaction
Phase
A.K.A as Calvin
Cycle

2. This phase takes place
in the stroma.
CO2
O2

3. C
RuDP
(Riboluse
Diphosphate)
C
CCC
C C
CCC
C C
CCC
c o
o
CO2
Fixation

4. CC CCCC
CC CCCC
CC CCCC
PGA
(Phosphoglycerate)
NADPH
(nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-oxidase)
This is now called PGAL
(phosphoglyceraldehyde)

5. C CC
C C C
C C C
C C C
C C C
C C C

6. C CC C C
C CC C C
C CC C C

7. C
RuDP
(Riboluse
Diphosphate)
C
CCC
C C
CCC
C C
CCC
c o
o

8. CC CCCC
CC CCCC
CC CCCC
PGA
(Phosphoglycerate)
NADPH
(nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-oxidase)
This is now called PGAL
(phosphoglyceraldehyde)

9. C CC
C C C
C C C
C C C
C C C
C C C

10. C C C

11. (LIGHT)
(INDEPENDENT)
(PHOTOSYNTHESIS)

12. Combines with
Very unstable
Splits
Combines with
forms