Cells As The Basis Of Life

1.3b: Energy Transformations 2

12BIO
This lesson covers

- The process of aerobic respiration.

- The processes of anaerobic respiration.
- Comparing the processes of ATP production
Review

Respiration

Glucose Adenosine Triphosphate

Energy transformations occur in all living cells.

Aerobic Respiration

Release of energy through the breakdown of

glucose.

● A complex, multi-stage process consisting

of a range of metabolic reactions.
● Consists of three main stages; glycolysis,
Krebs cycle, and electron transport chain.
● Occurs in the presence of oxygen.

Explain how most autotrophs and heterotrophs transform chemical energy for
use through aerobic respiration.
Aerobic Respiration Equation

Explain how most autotrophs and heterotrophs transform chemical energy for
use through aerobic respiration, as illustrated by the following equation:
Process of Aerobic Respiration
Glucose Pyruvate Cytosol
Mitochondria

Cell
membrane

The first step, glycolysis, involves a glucose molecule breaking down into two
pyruvate molecules.
This occurs in the cytosol. In the presence of oxygen, the pyruvate move to the
mitochondria.

Explain how most autotrophs and heterotrophs transform chemical energy for
use through aerobic respiration.
The Mitochondria
The inner membrane of the
mitochondria is folded into wave-like
structures called cristae, and are
populated with a range of enzymes and
ribosomes.

The structural feature allows for a high

surface area, allowing for many
pyruvate molecules to be broken down
at once.

Explain how most autotrophs and heterotrophs transform chemical energy for
use through aerobic respiration.
Krebs Cycle and Electron Transport Chain

Once in the mitochondria, the pyruvate

is broken down through Krebs cycle and
the electron transport chain, releasing
free energy, as well as carbon dioxide
and water.

A nett production of 30-32 ATP molecules occurs for each molecule of glucose.

Explain how most autotrophs and heterotrophs transform chemical energy for
use through aerobic respiration.
What If There’s No Oxygen?
Organisms have evolved the ability to produce energy (respire) in the absence
of oxygen in a process called fermentation.

Fermentation occurs only in the cytosol.

Alcoholic Lactic Acid

Explain that fermentation is an anaerobic alternative to aerobic respiration.

Fermentation Equations

In plants and yeast:

In animals:
Respiration Comparison
Fermentation Aerobic Respiration

Oxygen required No oxygen required Oxygen required

Site of process Cytosol Cytosol, then mitochondria

Products Ethanol and carbon dioxide (plants and Carbon dioxide and water
yeast)
Lactic acid (animals and some bacteria)

Energy released from 2 ATP molecules 30-32 ATP molecules

1 glucose molecule

Compare the amount of energy released through aerobic respiration and

fermentation.
Question 1
In an experiment, yeast cells were placed in a glucose solution in a
closed container and grown under anaerobic conditions.

Which one of the following would not have been released by the
respiring yeast cells?

Lactic acid.

Ethanol.

Heat.

Carbon dioxide.
Question 1
In an experiment, yeast cells were placed in a glucose solution in a
closed container and grown under anaerobic conditions.

Which one of the following would not have been released by the
respiring yeast cells?

Lactic acid.

Ethanol.

Heat.

Carbon dioxide.
Question 2

A cell culture was placed in a sealed container with water, glucose, and carbon dioxide, in
the presence of light. After 24 hours, the concentration of glucose had decreased, and
there was no change in the concentration of carbon dioxide.

Chemical
The table alongside shows combinations of a cell Cell type
Process
type and a chemical process that occurred over the
24-hour period. J Animal Fermentation

K Plant Photosynthesis
Which one of the following combinations in the
table correctly identifies the cell type and the L Yeast Fermentation
chemical process that occurred over the 24-hour
period? Bacterium Aerobic
M
Respiration
J K L M
Question 2

A cell culture was placed in a sealed container with water, glucose, and carbon dioxide, in
the presence of light. After 24 hours, the concentration of glucose had decreased, and
there was no change in the concentration of carbon dioxide.

Chemical
The table alongside shows combinations of a cell Cell type
Process
type and a chemical process that occurred over the
24-hour period. J Animal Fermentation

K Plant Photosynthesis
Which one of the following combinations in the
table correctly identifies the cell type and the L Yeast Fermentation
chemical process that occurred over the 24-hour
period? Bacterium Aerobic
M
Respiration
J K L M
Question 3
Yeast cells supplied with glucose are moved from an aerobic
environment to an anaerobic environment.

The amount of energy released by the yeast cell is

Greater in the anaerobic environment than in the aerobic environment when new
bonds are formed.

Less in the anaerobic environment than in the aerobic environment.

Greater in the anaerobic environment than in the aerobic environment when

bonds are broken.

The same in the aerobic environment and the anaerobic environment.

Question 3
Yeast cells supplied with glucose are moved from an aerobic
environment to an anaerobic environment.

The amount of energy released by the yeast cell is

Greater in the anaerobic environment than in the aerobic environment when new
bonds are formed.

Less in the anaerobic environment than in the aerobic environment.

Greater in the anaerobic environment than in the aerobic environment when

bonds are broken.

The same in the aerobic environment and the anaerobic environment.