How many times must the Calvin Cycle occur to produce one glucose molecule?

The Calvin Cycle, also known as the light-independent reactions of photosynthesis, is the process by which carbon dioxide is fixed into glucose in plants. For one molecule of glucose (C6H12O6) to be synthesized, the cycle must occur six times. Each turn of the Calvin Cycle incorporates carbon dioxide and produces a three-carbon sugar molecule called G3P (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate).

To form glucose, which consists of six carbon atoms, it is essential to run the cycle six times because each cycle results in the fixation of one carbon atom from carbon dioxide. After six cycles, enough G3P molecules accumulate to be rearranged and combined into a single glucose molecule. Therefore, six cycles are required to create the necessary carbon framework for one glucose molecule, making this understanding crucial for grasping the biochemical pathways in photosynthesis.