GenCore Biology 501(c)(3) Sponsored Nonprofit on Instagram: "In photosynthesis, electrons lose energy as they move through the electron transport chain in the light-dependent reactions. This energy loss occurs because the electrons are transferred between various protein complexes and molecules, each step lowering their energy level. The released energy is used to pump protons across the thylakoid membrane, creating a proton gradient that drives the production of ATP, a key energy carrier in the