Photosynthesis Calypso

This parody (written by Greg Crowther) is sung to the tune of The Banana Boat Song (words by Irving Burgie and William Attaway; traditional Jamaican melody).

The Calvin cycle is the part of photosynthesis in which carbon dioxide (CO₂) is "fixed," i.e., combined with ribulose bisphosphate (RuBP) to form two molecules of 3-phosphoglycerate (PGA). Additional reactions in the cycle convert some of this PGA into glucose, which can then be further converted into starch or sucrose.

Pho-to, Pho-to!
Daylight come and the plants make food.
Pho, me say pho, me say pho, me say pho, me say pho,
Me say pho-to-syn-the-sis!
Daylight come, and the plants make...

Calvin cycle carries out carbon fixation
(Daylight come and the plants make food)
When RuBP undergoes carboxylation!
(Daylight come and the plants make food)
Come Mr. Tally Man, tally up the glucose.
(Daylight come and the plants make food)
Plants convert it into starch and into sucrose.
(Daylight come and the plants make food)
Three carbons, four carbons, five carbons, six!
(Daylight come and the plants make food)
That’s what you get when CO₂ is fixed!
(Daylight come and the plants make food)

Pho, me say pho-to!
(Daylight come and the plants make food)
Pho, me say pho, me say pho, me say pho, me say pho,
Me say pho-to-syn-the-sis!
(Daylight come and the plants make food)

The beautiful cycle on this page
(Daylight come and the plants make food)
Needs ATP and NADPH!
(Daylight come and the plants make food)

Three carbons, four carbons, five carbons, six!
(Daylight come and the plants make food)
That’s what you get when CO₂ is fixed!
(Daylight come and the plants make food)

Pho, me say pho-to!
(Daylight come and the plants make food)
Pho, me say pho, me say pho, me say pho, me say pho,
Me say pho-to-syn-the-sis!
(Daylight come and the plants make food)

Come Mr. Tally Man, tally up the glucose.
(Daylight come and the plants make food)
Plants convert it into starch and into sucrose.
(Daylight come and the plants make food)

Pho-to, Pho-to!
Daylight come and the plants make food.
Pho, me say pho, me say pho, me say pho, me say pho,
Me say pho-to-syn-the-sis!
Daylight come and the plants make food.

(1) The lyrics refer to "carbon fixation" and CO₂ getting "fixed." What does it mean to fix carbon or CO₂?

(2) The lyrics say, "The beautiful cycle on this [textbook] page ... needs ATP and NADPH." What cycle is being referenced?

(3) What is the significance of the "Tally Man" counting up to six carbon atoms?

(4) What is the relationship between glucose, starch, and sucrose?