* Light-dependent reactions: The first stage of photosynthesis, called the light-dependent reactions, directly use sunlight energy to produce ATP and NADPH. These are the energy carriers that power the dark reactions.
* Dark reactions (Calvin cycle): The second stage, the dark reactions or Calvin cycle, use the ATP and NADPH produced in the light reactions to convert carbon dioxide into glucose.
* Name is misleading: The term "dark reactions" is a bit misleading because they can occur in both light and dark conditions. They are called "dark" because they don't directly require sunlight.
In summary, the dark reactions of photosynthesis use the energy stored in ATP and NADPH, which were produced in the light-dependent reactions. This is why they can proceed even in the absence of direct sunlight.
