ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)
ATP is an energy-rich molecule that provides the energy needed for all life
processes that occur in living cells.
Catabolic Processes
Catabolic processes refer to chemical reactions in which large,
complex molecules are broken down into small, simple molecules. These
reactions release energy.
Adapted
When something is described as being adapted, it means that it is
specialized for a particular function or a specific environment.
Here is the information organized for you:
Unit 1: Aerobic Respiration
Overview of Cellular Respiration:
Cellular respiration occurs in the cells of all plants and animals.
Energy is released as ATP when glucose molecules are broken down.
This energy is used by living cells for various life processes.
Aerobic respiration: When glucose is broken down in the presence of
oxygen, a large amount of energy is released.
Anaerobic respiration: When glucose is broken down in the absence of
oxygen, only a small amount of energy is released.
Aerobic Respiration:
Aerobic respiration occurs in the presence of oxygen.
The process can be simplified by the following equation:
Glucose + Oxygen → Carbon Dioxide + Water + Energy (ATP)
The Process of Aerobic Respiration
The breakdown of glucose using oxygen releases energy-rich hydrogen
atoms.
Oxygen is obtained through breathing.
o You will learn more about this in Topic 7 on gaseous exchange.
The energy in the hydrogen atoms is used to form energy-rich ATP.
The hydrogen atoms eventually combine with oxygen to form water.
Carbon dioxide and water are released as waste products.
Stages of Aerobic Respiration
Aerobic respiration is divided into three stages:
1. Glycolysis:
Occurs in the cytoplasm of the cell.
Glucose is broken down into a substance called pyruvic acid.
Energy-rich hydrogen atoms are released and move into the
mitochondria, where they are used in oxidative phosphorylation.
Two ATP molecules are produced during glycolysis.
2. The Krebs Cycle:
Occurs in the mitochondria of the cell.
Pyruvic acid, produced in glycolysis, is completely broken down into
energy-rich hydrogen atoms and carbon dioxide.
The energy-rich hydrogen atoms are used in oxidative phosphorylation.
Carbon dioxide is released as a gas and is breathed out.
3. Oxidative Phosphorylation:
Occurs in the mitochondria.
The energy from the hydrogen atoms is used to make energy-rich ATP.
The hydrogen atoms lose energy and combine with oxygen to form water.
The water is either breathed out as water vapour or excreted by the
kidneys
Energy Produced by Aerobic Respiration
One glucose molecule produces 38 ATP molecules.
This energy is used for all the life processes of cells, including:
o Growth: Building complex molecules from simpler ones.
o Transporting substances across cell membranes.
o Movement: Energy required for muscle contractions and other forms
of movement.
nvestigating the Process of Aerobic Respiration
How Do We Know Whether Aerobic Respiration is Occurring?
We can determine if aerobic respiration is happening in a living organism by
checking:
o Whether the organism gives off carbon dioxide.
o Whether the organism is using up oxygen.
Practical Activity 1: Investigate Whether Oxygen is Used During
Aerobic Respiration
Materials Needed:
Thermometer
Rubber tubing
Rubber stoppers
Beetle
Test tube
Sponge stopper
Soda lime
Colored water
Apparatus Used:
The experiment uses the setup shown in Fig. 6.3, which demonstrates the
tools and materials required to investigate whether oxygen is used during
aerobic respiration.
Practical Activity 2: Investigate Whether Carbon Dioxide is Given Off
During Aerobic Respiration
Materials Needed:
Two test tubes with rubber stoppers
Clear limewater
Sorghum or wheat seeds
A beaker of water
Cotton wool
Filter paper or paper towels
Apparatus Used:
Test tube with germinating seeds.
Control test tube with no seeds.
Glass beaker filled with water.
Cotton wool plug to seal the test tubes.
Clear limewater to test for the presence of carbon dioxide.
Experimental Setup:
Fig. 6.4 shows the apparatus used for investigating whether carbon dioxide
is released during aerobic respiration. The setup involves comparing a test
tube with germinating seeds to a control tube with no seeds.
Factors That Affect the Rate of Aerobic Respiration
The rate of aerobic respiration refers to how fast or slow respiration occurs.
Several factors can influence this rate:
Temperature: Like photosynthesis, aerobic respiration relies on enzymes,
which are affected by temperature. Enzymes speed up or slow down based
on the surrounding temperature, impacting the rate of respiration.
Metabolic Rate: The metabolic rate is the rate at which all chemical
reactions in the body cells are occurring. During physical activity, when
muscles require more energy, the metabolic rate increases, thereby
increasing the rate of aerobic respiration. This results in the body needing
more oxygen and producing more heat.
Practical Activity 3: Investigate the Effect of Temperature on
Respiration
This activity investigates the effect of temperature on the rate of aerobic
respiration using a respirometer.
Materials Needed:
Respirometer (an apparatus to measure the consumption of oxygen and
production of carbon dioxide, which can be used to study the rate of
respiration).
Apparatus Used:
The apparatus used to set up a respirometer is shown in Fig. 6.5.
Explanation:
Temperature is one of the factors influencing the rate of respiration. A
respirometer can measure how temperature affects the consumption of
oxygen and the production of carbon dioxide.
Factors That Do Not Affect the Rate of Aerobic Respiration in
Humans
Body Temperature: In humans, body temperature does not significantly
affect the rate of aerobic respiration because the body maintains a constant
internal temperature.
Physical Activity: The rate of aerobic respiration in humans does increase
when muscles are working harder during physical activity. This is because
more energy (ATP) is needed.
Increased Metabolic Rate:
When our muscles work harder, the metabolic rate increases. This leads to
the body requiring more oxygen, causing us to breathe more often and
deeply.
More heat is also produced as ATP is used up by the body, making us feel hot.
This increase in metabolic rate can be observed during physical exertion.
Endothermic Animals
Endothermic animals are those that can maintain a constant body
temperature, regardless of the temperature of the environment. Humans are
an example of endothermic animals.
Unit 2: Anaerobic Respiration
Overview of Anaerobic Respiration
Anaerobic respiration occurs when no oxygen is present.
Anaerobic respiration happens in all living organisms.
Primitive organisms that live in places where there is no oxygen respire
anaerobically.
o This type of anaerobic respiration is called alcoholic fermentation.
When it occurs in animal cells, it is called lactic acid fermentation.
Alcoholic Fermentation
The process of alcoholic fermentation occurs in organisms such as yeast,
in the absence of oxygen.
Lactic Acid Fermentation
The process of lactic acid fermentation occurs in animal cells, especially
when there is not enough oxygen, such as during intense exercise.
Lactic acid fermentation occurs in animal cells that need a lot of energy, such
as muscle
cells when they do not get enough oxygen. You will learn how this occurs
later on in
the unit. Lactic acid fermentation
can be represented by the following equation:
Anaerobic Respiration Energy Yield
Only two ATPs are produced each time glucose is broken down in either
type of anaerobic respiration.
This is because glucose is not completely broken down, so most of the
energy that is stored in the glucose is not released and therefore cannot be
used to make ATP.
Comparison between Aerobic and Anaerobic Respiration
Anaerobic Aerobic
Process
Respiration Respiration
Raw Materials Glucose and
Glucose
Required Oxygen
Products Alcohol and Carbon Carbon
Anaerobic Aerobic
Process
Respiration Respiration
Dioxide or Lactic Acid Dioxide and Water
Amount of Energy
Released per Glucose 2 ATP 38 ATP
Molecule
Anaerobic Respiration in Humans
Normal respiration occurs in the presence of oxygen, where glucose is
broken down to release energy (ATP).
During exercise, muscles need more energy to continue working. If not
enough oxygen reaches the muscle cells, anaerobic respiration begins.
Anaerobic respiration in muscle cells produces lactic acid as a byproduct.
Lactic acid buildup leads to muscle fatigue, which makes muscles feel
stiff and weak after exercise.
After exercise, muscle cells need to break down lactic acid, but this
requires extra oxygen.
The extra oxygen required to break down lactic acid is called the oxygen
debt.
After exercise, you breathe more rapidly to pay off your oxygen debt.
Once the oxygen debt is paid, your breathing rate returns to normal.
Oxygen debt: The additional amount of oxygen that the body needs
after exercise to get rid of the lactic acid in the muscles.
Alcoholic fermentation: A type of anaerobic respiration that occurs
in plants and some microorganisms, where alcohol is produced as one
of its end products.
Lactic acid fermentation: A type of anaerobic respiration that occurs
in animals (including humans), resulting in the production of lactic
acid.
Role of Anaerobic Respiration in Industry
Biotechnology: The industrial use of living organisms to manufacture food
and other products. Yeast is one such living organism that has been used in
biotechnology for thousands of years.
Yeast in Alcoholic Drinks:
o Yeast is used in the production of alcoholic drinks such as beer and
wine.
o Yeast ferments sugar solutions to produce alcohol.
o In South Africa, various plants such as Khadia acutipetala (common
name: khadi) and Mestoklema tuberosum (common name: dinkievygie)
contain yeasts, which are commonly used for fermenting traditional
beers.
o Yeast's fermentation process:
Converts sugars (like glucose) into alcohol.
Beer is made from barley (yeast converts malt sugar in barley
into alcohol).
Wine is made from grape juice (yeast converts sugar in the
grape juice into alcohol).
Traditional African beers are mostly made from sorghum
and maize. Yeast converts the sugars in these grains into
alcohol.
Yeast in Bread Making:
o Yeast is also crucial in the production of bread.
o When flour, water, and a small amount of sugar are mixed with
yeast:
Yeast ferments the sugar in the process of alcoholic
fermentation, producing carbon dioxide gas and alcohol.
The carbon dioxide gas is trapped in the dough, causing it to
rise.
When the dough is baked, the heat kills the yeast, and the
alcohol evaporates.
