An older term for the Calvin cycle or light-independent reactions of photosynthesis, where CO2 is fixed into organic molecules using ATP and NADPH. Despite the name, these reactions can occur in light but don't directly require it.
Originally called 'dark reactions' because they were thought to occur only in darkness, contrasting with the light-requiring reactions. Scientists later discovered these reactions can occur in light but don't directly depend on it, making 'light-independent reactions' a more accurate term.
The name 'dark reactions' is actually misleading - these reactions happen during the day in bright sunlight! They're called 'dark' not because they need darkness, but because they don't directly use light energy, instead running on the ATP and NADPH batteries charged up by the light reactions.
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