What are two major stages of photosynthesis?

What are two major stages of photosynthesis?

Photosynthesis can be broken down into 2️⃣ major stages: light-dependent reactions and light-independent reactions. 

1️⃣ The light-dependent reaction takes place within the thylakoid membrane and requires a steady stream of sunlight, hence its name. The chlorophyll absorbs energy from the light waves, which is converted into chemical energy in the form of the molecules ATP and NADPH. 

2️⃣ The light-independent stage takes place in the stroma, the space between the thylakoid membranes and the chloroplast membranes, and does not require light, hence its the name. During this three-step stage, energy from the ATP and NADPH molecules is used to assemble carbohydrate molecules, like glucose, from carbon dioxide. So, this stage is the process that generates sugars for the plant. It is also known as the Calvin Cycle ⬆️, named after Melvin Calvin (1911-1997), the Nobel Prize-winning scientist who discovered it.