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'''Biological carbon fixation''', or '''сarbon assimilation''', is the [[Biological process|process]] by which living organisms convert [[Total inorganic carbon|inorganic carbon]] (particularly [[carbon dioxide]]) to [[Organic compound|organic compounds]]. These organic compounds are then used to store [[energy]] and as structures for other [[Biomolecule|biomolecules]]. [[Carbon]] is primarily fixed through [[photosynthesis]], but some organisms use chemosynthesis in the absence of [[sunlight]]. [[Chemosynthesis]] is carbon fixation driven by chemical energy rather than from sunlight.
The process of biological carbon fixation plays a crucial role in the global carbon cycle, as it serves as the primary mechanism for removing CO<sub>2</sub> (carbon dioxide) from the atmosphere and incorporating it into living biomass. The [[primary production]] of organic compounds allows carbon to enter the [[biosphere]].<ref name=":5" /> Carbon is considered essential for life as a base element for building organic compounds.<ref name=":53">{{Cite journal |last=Santos Correa |first=Sulamita |last2=Schultz |first2=Junia |last3=Lauersen |first3=Kyle J. |last4=Soares Rosado |first4=Alexandre |date=2023-05-01 |title=Natural carbon fixation and advances in synthetic engineering for redesigning and creating new fixation pathways |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2090123222001655 |journal=Journal of Advanced Research |volume=47 |pages=75–92 |doi=10.1016/j.jare.2022.07.011 |issn=2090-1232}}</ref> The element of carbon forms the bases [[Biogeochemical cycle|biogeochemical cycles]] (or [[Nutrient cycle|nutrient cycles]]) and drives [[Community (ecology)|communities]] of living organisms.<ref name=":53" /> Understanding biological carbon fixation is essential for comprehending ecosystem dynamics, climate regulation, and the sustainability of life on Earth.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Berg |first=Jeremy M. |last2=Tymoczko |first2=John L. |last3=Stryer |first3=Lubert |date=2013 |title=Stryer Biochemie |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-8274-2989-6 |doi=10.1007/978-3-8274-2989-6}}</ref>
Organisms that grow by fixing carbon are called [[Autotroph|autotrophs]]. These include [[Phototroph|photoautotrophs]] (which use sunlight) and [[Lithoautotroph|lithoautotrophs]] (which use [[Oxidizing agent|inorganic oxidation]]). Six natural or autotrophic carbon fixation pathways are currently known. They are the: i) [[Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle|Calvin-Benson-Bassham]] (Calvin Cycle), ii) [[Reverse Krebs cycle|Reverse Krebs]] (rTCA) cycle, iii) the [[Reductive acetyl CoA Pathway|reductive acetyl-CoA]] (Wood-Ljungdahl pathway), iv) [[3-Hydroxypropionate bicycle|3-hydroxy propionate [3-HP] bicycle]], v) 3-hydroypropionate/4- hydroxybutyrate (3-HP/4-HB) cycle, and vi) the dicarboxylate/ 4-hydroxybutyrate (DC/4-HB) cycle. <ref name=":5">{{Cite journal |last=Santos Correa |first=Sulamita |last2=Schultz |first2=Junia |last3=Lauersen |first3=Kyle J. |last4=Soares Rosado |first4=Alexandre |date=2023-05-01 |title=Natural carbon fixation and advances in synthetic engineering for redesigning and creating new fixation pathways |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2090123222001655 |journal=Journal of Advanced Research |volume=47 |pages=75–92 |doi=10.1016/j.jare.2022.07.011 |issn=2090-1232}}</ref> [[Heterotroph|Heterotrophs]] are not capable of carbon fixation but are able to grow by consuming the carbon fixed by autotrophs or other heterotrophs. "Fixed carbon," "reduced carbon," and "organic carbon" may all be used interchangeably to refer to various organic compounds.<ref name="Geider2">{{cite journal |vauthors=Geider RJ, et al |year=2001 |title=Primary productivity of planet earth: biological determinants and physical constraints in terrestrial and aquatic habitats |journal=Global Change Biology |volume=7 |issue=8 |pages=849–882 |bibcode=2001GCBio...7..849G |doi=10.1046/j.1365-2486.2001.00448.x |s2cid=41335311 |doi-access=free}}</ref>
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