Chapter 19, Problem 16E

Summary Introduction

To explain:  The reason why knocking out a gene for a chloroplast fatty acid desaturase increases the rate of photosynthesis at 40°C.

Concept introduction:

Photosynthesis is a vital process in primary producers, plants. Plants use the light energy and the carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere and produce sugars that are stored in various parts of the plants. The enzyme fatty acid desaturase (FADs) plays an important role in the development of plants. They function to introduce double bonds into the hydrocarbon fatty acids chains in order to produce unsaturated fatty acids.