The process of converting inorganic carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into organic carbon compounds that can be used by living organisms. This is primarily accomplished through photosynthesis by plants, algae, and some bacteria.
From 'carbon' referring to the element, and 'fixation' from Latin 'fixus' meaning to fasten or make stable. The term emerged in the early 20th century as scientists understood how atmospheric CO2 becomes incorporated into biological molecules.
Carbon fixation is literally how life captures carbon from thin air and turns it into the building blocks of all organic molecules! Every carbon atom in your body was once floating around as CO2 in the atmosphere until a plant 'fixed' it into food that eventually made its way to you.
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