Respiration

Respiration
Respiration is the process of obtaining energy by the chemical breakdown of
food molecules such as glucose in cells. Respiration usually occurs in the
mitochondrion of cells. The energy released is used to help cells carry out
functions such as growth, repair and reproduction. Energy is used for muscle
movement and maintaining body temperature.
There are two types of respiration. These include Aerobic Respiration and
Anaerobic Respiration.
Aerobic Respiration
In aerobic respiration, glucose (which obtained from the consumption and
digestion of food) is completely broken down to carbon dioxide and water in the
presence of oxygen. It also results in the production of energy that is made
available for cells in living organisms which they use to carry out processes to
ensure they (the cells) stay alive.
The chemical and word equations for Aerobic Respiration:
How do food and oxygen reach respiring
cells?
Food
When food is consumed by animals, it digested and enters the blood stream.
The end products of digestion e.g carbohydrates like monosaccharides
(glucose) will eventually reach all the cells in our body through diffusion.
In plants however, it is through the process of photosynthesis that they are
able to produce their own “food”. The food that is produced is glucose. The
glucose is produced by the leaves and are converted to sucrose where they are
transported to various parts of the plant via the phloem tubes until they
eventually reach the plant cells via diffusion and converted back to glucose when
the cells need to carry out respiration. In both plant and animals, the type of
“food” used for producing energy is glucose.
How do food and oxygen reach respiring
cells? (cont’d)
Oxygen
In vertebrates, oxygen is inhaled into the lungs via the air around them.
After it enters the lungs it diffuses into the bloodstream and is transported and
diffused to all the body’s cells.
In plants’ some of the oxygen comes from photosynthesis but most of it
comes to the plant’s cells through diffusion in the leaves via the stomata and
other parts of the cells (e.g. lenticels).
How Food and Oxygen Reaches the Cells in Man
Diagram Showing the relation of Photosynthesis and
Aerobic Respiration
Aerobic Respiration (cont’d)
During aerobic respiration, the glucose is broken down to carbon dioxide and
water. At each breakdown of glucose, energy is released. This energy is used
to convert a chemical called adenosine diphosphate (ADP) into adenosine
triphosphate (ATP). Every molecule of ATP formed through respiration, is a
“packet” of energy. ATP is the basic unit of energy in cells. At times, this
energy can be stored and used later whenever required. When energy is stored in
ATP, it is release when is converted back to ADP.

NOTE:
In order for ADP to be converted to ATP,
it requires the bonding of a phosphate group to
the ADP molecule. This uses some energy.
However, when the energy is needed by the cell,
the ATP molecule is quickly broken down to ADP.
During this process, it looses a phosphate group
which results in the release of energy that
is used by cells during the process of respiration.
One ATP molecule releases a small amount of
energy into the cell. Therefore, if more energy is
required, a lot more ATP molecules will be
needed.
Aerobic Respiration (cont’d)
There are many advantages to storing energy in these “packets” of energy. Some
include:
1. The energy is released from ATP whenever or wherever it is required by the
cell.
2. The energy is released very rapidly.
3. Energy is not wasted. A cell may not require large quantities of energy at once.
When energy is stored in small packets of ATP molecules, the cell can utilise
only the quantity of energy that is needed.
4. This energy is used to drive/ help call out various chemical reactions rapidly.
5. Energy can be stored as ATP in one part of the cell and transported and used
elsewhere without causing reactions in between.
Energy production and production in the cell is very efficient and carefully
controlled by the cell.
The organelle in the cell where respiration occurs is called the mitochondrion.
All cells (both plants and animals) contain mitochondria. Since it carries out the
process of respiration, the mitochondria are also referred to as the “power
houses” of the cells.
Anaerobic Respiration
In the absence of oxygen, anaerobic respiration occurs. The glucose is not fully
broken down so less energy is produced. Anaerobic respiration occurs in the cytoplasm
and not the mitochondria in cells. Anaerobic respiration can occur in two different ways
as seen below.
Some microorganisms such as yeast carry out anaerobic respiration in the absence of
oxygen and produce ethanol and carbon dioxide. Living cells usually respire aerobically,
however under certain conditions, it can respire anaerobically. For example, in animals
(human), during strenuous exercise, the muscles cells do not get enough oxygen. To
overcome this, anaerobic respiration occurs to obtain energy however, lactic acid is made
as a by-product. The build up of lactic acid causes cramping in the muscle tissues. The
equations seen below are various conditions where anaerobic respiration occurs.
1. Anaerobic Respiration in Yeast
The word and chemical equation for anaerobic respiration in yeast is seen below:

In anaerobic respiration in yeast, the waste products are alcohol (ethanol) and carbon
dioxide.
Anaerobic Respiration (cont’d)
Since anaerobic respiration occurs in yeast and results in the production of an alcohol
called ethanol, it is also known alcoholic fermentation. Yeast is used widely in the
baking and brewing industries, since the waste products of respiring yeast (that is,
ethanol and carbon dioxide) can used to Man’s benefit in both instances. The word and
chemical equation for anaerobic respiration in yeast is stated below:

In the baking industry, yeast is used to produce carbon dioxide under anaerobic
conditions, which causes the dough to rise as it accumulates in small air/gas pockets
in the dough. Any ethanol that is produced here, vaporises as the dough bakes in the
oven.
In the brewing industries, a wide range of alcoholic drinks can be produced when
the yeast is under anaerobic conditions. If the sugar used for this process comes from
barley seed, the fermentation process results in the production of beer. If however,
the sugar used is cane sugar or molasses, rum is produced after the fermentation
process. During the brewing process, the carbon dioxide can be seen as bubbles forming
as the process is occurring.
The Science of Breadmaking using Respiring Yeast.
The Science of Brewing using Respiring Yeast.
Anaerobic Respiration (cont’d)
2. Anaerobic Respiration in Muscle Cells in Animals
The word and chemical equation for anaerobic respiration in muscle cells under
strenuous conditions are:

NOTE:
In both forms of anaerobic respiration, a small amount of energy, that is , two (2)
molecules of ATP (energy) are produced for every one molecule of glucose that
is being used.
This type of respiration usually occurs in human cells during strenuous exercise.
These cells require much more energy for the extra work that they are doing. The
breathing and heart rate increases in order to get more oxygen to these cells.
Sweating increases as respiration increases which help to lose the extra energy
being produced to be lost as heat.
Anaerobic Respiration (cont’d)
After a while of continuous exercising, the oxygen supply becomes
inadequate. This causes the cells to then respire anaerobically. The energy
produced is much less under aerobic conditions however, it helps the cells to
continue to do the required work (aid in contraction and relaxation in muscle
cells).
As seen in the previous slide, one of the products of this type of respiration
is lactic acid. Lactic acid is the waste product of anaerobic respiration during
strenuous exercising. This substance usually builds up in the muscle and
causes them to ache. This aching sensation is called fatigue. After the
strenuous exercising, the body needs to eliminate this waste product of
anaerobic respiration as quickly as possible.
In order to do this, the person continues to ‘breathe hard’ or pant for some
time after exercise as oxygen is needed to rid the cells of lactic acid. After a
series of reactions, the lactic acid is eventually broken down to carbon dioxide
and water. The shortage of oxygen that is created as a result of strenuous
exercise is called oxygen debt. During the oxygen debt, the body is
eliminating the build up of lactic acid which was produced during anaerobic
respiration. The intensity of the exercise determines how long this process
occurs. It can take a few minutes to a few days (e.g. a marathon runner) to
recover
Strenuous Exercises and effect on the
Body
Anaerobic Respiration (cont’d)
3. Anaerobic Respiration in Bacteria
Some bacteria respire anaerobically. Similar to animal cells, they make lactic acid as
a waste product. Anaerobic respiration in bacteria is used by Man, in the manufacturing
of yoghurt and cheese.

Right: Production of Yoghurt

Using the Lactobacillus bacteria
Comparison of Aerobic Respiration to
Anaerobic Respiration
Aerobic Respiration Anaerobic Respiration

Glucose Completely Not completely

Breakdown

Oxygen Needed Not Needed

Energy Released Large Amounts Small Amounts

End Products Carbon dioxide+ Water+ -Lactic acid + Energy (Muscle

Energy in Animal Tissue)
- Alcohol + Carbon dioxide +
Energy (Fermentation)