Cell Respiration!

Cellular Respiration!

In this lab, we compared the rate of cellular respiration between glass beads, mung beans, and peas. Before we tell you more about this extremely exciting experiment, you have to know some background info on cellular respiration. Cellular respiration takes place in a cell's mitochondria, and produces energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate, commonly known as ATP. Here's the equation:

          C6H12O6 + 6O2 -----> 6CO2 + 6H2O + ATP (energy)

This is a diagram of Cellular Respiration within the cell.

As you can see, cellular respiration requires sugar (glucose) and oxygen in order to take place, and then produces carbon dioxide (CO2), water, and ATP. In this lab, we were able to compare the rate of cellular respiration between glass beads, mung beans, and peas by using sensors that measured the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the chamber where the specimens were placed. We compared the amount of CO2 being produced to the amount of O2 being used up in order to find the rate of respiration. Cooler Than Absolute Zero predicted that the mung beans would have the highest rate of respiration. Let's find out if we were right!

Note: That if the cell does not have oxygen to work with, it will not continue onto the Citric Acid Cycle. It breaks off in to two parts from glycolysis; Lactation or alcoholic fermentation.

Procedure: 

In this lab, we were measuring the respiration rate by focusing on CO2 and O2 production. First, we decided that it was a good idea to have a control group to check our other gathered data with. Our control group in this experiment were solid marbles. We placed these marbles in a clear container, closing it off with a lid. This lid contained two inputs for our CO2 and O2 respirators. We secured these into place and were ready to conduct the experiment. After a minute of waiting, we started calculating the percentage of CO2 and O2 in the container. The system we used was connected to a screen tablet that displayed a graph, and allowed us to see the amounts of these two gases. Shortly after waiting ten minutes, as written in the instructions, we began assessing the data collected. The graph showed that the amount of CO2 and O2 stayed at a constant rate. This data makes sense because the marbles are abiotic and not going through the process of cellular respiration. Next, we cleaned out the container and placed germinated peas to calculate their respiration rate. Following the instructions, we proceeded to do all the steps stated previously to receive our data for the peas. Again, after ten minutes of waiting; we finally got to assess the graph or our data. This time, the graph showed that CO2 progressively increased while,O2 progressively decreased. This data is accurate being the germinated peas are consuming O2, a clear indication that cellular respiration is taking place. Lastly, the group measured the respiration rate in mung beans. This graph showed an increase in CO2 and a decrease in O2; the exact same data in the germinated peas.

Not only did we test the mung beans and peas in normal temperature environments, we cooled the temperature to see if that had any affect on them. Basically, we did the same experiment stated above. However.. Before placing the mung beans and germinated peas into the container, we let each one of them soak in ice water for a minute. After, we simply dried them off and placed them into the container to measure the rate of cellular respiration. The graph for the mung beans showed that CO2 increased and O2 decreased, but at a slower rate. Then, the graph for the germinated peas displayed the same results.

Analysis questions...

1. The effect of germination on the rate of cellular respiration in peas, is that the rate of O2 will become higher. We know this because, when a pea is germinating it means that it is growing. When it keeps growing, the need for O2 consumption grows alongside. Resulting in the rate being higher, as stated previously. 

2. There are many pieces of evidence that cell respiration occurred in peas. One reason that the germinated peas still were undergoing cellular respiration because they were still alive. We know this because the O2 levels increased while the CO2 levels decreased.

3. Germinated peas undergo cellular respiration because they are still producing sugar for themselves

Conclusion:

In this lab, we really started to see how each chapter we learned about starts building on each other. Without knowing vital information from chapters on sugars and proteins, we would not be able to analyze thoroughly on how cellular respiration and photosynthesis works. We see how temperature affects proteins and denaturizes them so these processes are unable to function, and we see how certain molecules behave. Overall, we learned how by changing specific factors, we can change the rate of cellular respiration.

Group Discussion:

We got to observe and accurately measure cell respiration in the lab by using high tech, high quality equipment to measure levels of Oxygen and CO2 within a closed chamber of germinating peas and beans. With dry beans we saw no drastic changing in Oxygen or Carbon Dioxide. When using peas that were germinating, we saw that oxygen was slowly dropping and carbon dioxide levels was rising. This made sense because plants like peas release carbon dioxide during cell respiration. When we soaked the peas in really cold water, the rate at which carbon dioxide was being release drastically slowed down. Is proves that plants have a ideal point of temperature to grow in and hotter/colder climates could slow down their rate of respiration.