Video Transcript
What organisms did Van Niel use in
his experiments investigating photosynthesis? (A) Green and purple bacteria, (B)
Chlorella algae, (C) Nitella algae, (D) vascular plants, or (E)
pondweed.
Van Niel studied photosynthesis in
the 1930s with great success. His work lay the foundation for our
modern understanding of how plants and bacteria can produce their own nutrition
using energy from sunlight. But what organisms did Van Niel use
in his experiments? And why were they important to his
success?
First, let’s talk about the
incorrect answers. Chlorella algae were
primarily used by Melvin Calvin to understand the light-dependent portion of
photosynthesis. Algaes in general were not often
used by Van Niel. So, answers (B) and (C) are
incorrect. In addition, he did not use
vascular plants or pondweed in his major experiments. So, answers (D) and (E) would be
incorrect as well.
Van Niel was able to learn a lot
about plant photosynthesis by comparing it to bacterial photosynthesis. So the correct answer is (A). Van Niel used green and purple
bacteria in his experiments investigating photosynthesis.
