Why does the Calvin cycle require six turns to create a single hexose sugar?

Three turns of the cycle produces six molecules of triose phosphate (TP). Five of these six molecules are used to regenerate ribulose bisphosphate (RuBP). So for three turns of the Calvin cycle, only one molecule of TP is produced which can be used to make a hexose sugar. TP contains three carbons and a hexose sugar contains six, therefore two molecules of TP are required to make one hexose sugar. This means that six turns of the Calvin cycle are required to produce two molecules of TP which can be used to make one hexose sugar.

Answered by Rakhitha K. Biology tutor

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