Introduction: Uses of Energy in Living Organisms

 Respiration is a chemical process that involves the breakdown of nutrient

molecules (specifically glucose) in order to release the energy stored within
the bonds of these molecules
o Respiration is enzyme-controlled
 Respiration can take place with oxygen (aerobically) or without oxygen
(anaerobically).
o Much less energy is released for each glucose molecule broken down
anaerobically compared to the energy released when it is broken down
aerobically
 Respiration occurs in all living cells; most of the chemical reactions in aerobic
respiration take place in the mitochondria
 Humans need the energy released during respiration carry out many processes
o Muscle contraction
o Protein synthesis
o Cell division (to make new cells)
o Growth
o Active transport across cell membranes
o Generation of nerve impulses
o Maintaining a constant internal body temperature

The energy released during respiration is used to fuel many processes in the human body
The Effect of Temperature on Respiration
The Effect of Temperature on the Respiration of Yeast Cells

 There are several different experimental methods that can be used to

investigate the rate of respiration in organisms
 Some methods, such as the experiment described below, involve the use of a
coloured indicator
 An indicator can be used to investigate the effect of temperature on the rate of
aerobic respiration in yeast
 Methylene blue dye is a suitable indicator
 This dye can be added to a suspension of living yeast cells because it doesn't
damage cells
 Yeast can respire both aerobically and anaerobically, though in this experiment
it is their rate of aerobic respiration that is being investigated
 The time taken for the methylene blue to discolour (lose its colour) is a measure
of the rate of respiration of the yeast cells in the suspension
o The faster the dye changes from blue to colourless, the faster the rate of
respiration

Needs

 Yeast suspension
 Glucose solution
 Test tubes
 Stopwatch
 Methylene blue
 Temperature-controlled water bath(s)

Methylene blue is added to a solution of aerobically respiring yeast cells in a glucose

suspension. The rate at which the solution turns from blue to colourless gives a measure
of the rate of aerobic respiration.
Independent and dependent variables

 The independent variable is the variable that is changed on purpose

o Here the investigation studies the effect of temperature on respiration
rate in yeast, so the independent variable is temperature
o Different temperatures are achieved using water baths
 The dependent variable is the variable that is measured, i.e. the variable
that depends on the independent variable for its outcome
o In an investigation into the effect of temperature on the rate of
respiration in yeast, the rate of respiration is the dependent variable
o The rate is measured here by recording the time taken for methylene
blue dye to change from blue to colourless

Controlling other variables

 It is important when investigating the effect of one variable on another to ensure

that any other variables that might influence the dependent variable are being
controlled, e.g.
o Volume/concentration of dye added: if there are more dye molecules
present then the time taken for the colour change to occur may be
longer
o Volume/concentration of yeast suspension: if more yeast cells are
present then more respiration will be occurring and the dye will change
colour more quickly
o Concentration of glucose: if there is limited glucose in one tube then
the respiration of those yeast cells will be limited
o pH: pH can influence enzyme activity, and enzymes are involved in the
reactions of respiration, so pH can therefore influence the rate of
respiration
 A buffer solution can be used to control the pH level to ensure
that no enzymes are denatured

Results of the experiment

 A graph should be plotted that shows 'temperature' (x-axis) against 'time for
colour change' (y-axis)
o It is also possible to convert 'time for colour change' into a unit of
reaction rate; this has been done in the graph shown below
 As the temperature increases up to 40 °C, the rate of respiration
increases so the time taken for the solution to become colourless reduces
o Raising the temperature of a solution gives the molecules in the solution
more kinetic energy, so they move around more and the enzymes and
substrates involved in respiration collide with each other more frequently
 As temperature increases above 40 °C, the rate of respiration decreases so
the time taken for the solution to become colourless increases
o Increasing the temperature above a certain point causes the enzymes
involved in respiration to denature; the shape of their active site changes
and they can no longer form enzyme-substrate complexes
 The time taken for methylene blue to change colour can be converted into “rate of
respiration” and plotted on a graph. Note that a graph of temperature against “time for
colour change” will look different to the graph shown here.

Respiration is a Chemical Reaction

 Aerobic respiration requires oxygen and is defined as the chemical reactions
in cells that use oxygen to break down nutrient molecules to release
energy
 It is the complete breakdown of glucose to release a relatively large
amount of energy for use in cell processes
 It produces carbon dioxide and water as well as releasing useful cellular
energy

Word equation for aerobic respiration

Balanced Chemical Equation for Aerobic Respiration (extended)

 
Anaerobic Respiration - Respiration Without Oxygen

 Anaerobic respiration does not require oxygen and is defined as the

chemical reactions in cells that break down nutrient molecules to release
energy without using oxygen
 It is the incomplete breakdown of glucose and releases a relatively small
amount of energy (compared to aerobic respiration) for use in cell processes
 It produces different breakdown products depending on the type of organism it
is taking place in
 You need to know the equations for anaerobic respiration in humans (animals)
and the microorganism yeast

Anaerobic Respiration in Animals

 Anaerobic respiration mainly takes place in muscle cells during vigorous

exercise
 When we exercise vigorously, our muscles have a higher demand for
energy than when we are resting or exercising normally. Our bodies can only
deliver so much oxygen to our muscle cells for aerobic respiration
 In this instance, as much glucose as possible is broken down with oxygen, and
some glucose is broken down without it, producing lactic acid instead
 There is still energy stored within the bonds of lactic acid molecules that the cell
could use; for this reason, less energy is released when glucose is broken
down anaerobically

Word equation for anaerobic respiration in animals

Anaerobic Respiration in Yeast

 We take advantage of the products of anaerobic respiration in yeast by using it

in bread making, where
o The carbon dioxide produced causes dough to rise
 And in brewing, where
o The ethanol produced gives the beer its alcoholic nature
o The carbon dioxide produced gives beer its fizz

Word equation for anaerobic respiration in yeast

Balanced Chemical Equation for Anaerobic Respiration (extended)

 The balanced chemical equation for anaerobic respiration in yeast is:

Anaerobic Respiration & Oxygen Debt

 Lactic acid builds up in muscle cells and lowers the pH of the cells (making
them more acidic)
 This could denature the enzymes in cells so it needs to be removed
 Cells excrete lactic acid into the blood. When blood passes through the liver,
lactic acid is taken up into liver cells where it is oxidised, producing carbon
dioxide and water (Lactic acid reacts with oxygen - this is actually aerobic
respiration with lactic acid as the nutrient molecule instead of glucose)
 So the waste products of lactic acid oxidation are carbon dioxide and water
 This is the reason we continue to breath heavily and our heart rate remains
high even after finishing exercise - we need to transport the lactic acid from our
 muscles to the liver, and continue getting larger amounts of oxygen into the
blood to oxidise the lactic acid
 This is known as ‘repaying the oxygen debt’

Comparing Aerobic & Anaerobic Respiration