2.8 Cell Respiration

Essential Idea

• Cell respiration supplies energy for the function of life.

Understandings

1. Cell respiration is the controlled release of energy from organic compounds to produce ATP.

2. ATP from cell respiration is immediately available as a source of energy in the cell.

3. Anaerobic cell respiration gives a small yield of ATP from glucose.

4. Aerobic cell respiration requires oxygen and gives a large yield of ATP from glucose.

Applications

1. Use of anaerobic cell respiration in yeasts to produce ethanol and carbon dioxide in baking.

2. Lactate production in humans when anaerobic respiration is used to maximize the power of muscle contractions.

Skills

1. Analysis of results from experiments involving measurement of respiration rates in germinating seeds or invertebrates using a respirometer (Virtual Lab - Pearson).

Guidance

• Details of the metabolic pathways of cell respiration are not needed but the substrates and final waste products should be known.

• There are many simple respirometers which could be used. Students are expected to know that an alkali is used to absorb CO₂, so reductions in volume are due to oxygen use. Temperature should be kept constant to avoid volume changes due to temperature fluctuations.

Key Vocabulary

• Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)

• Cytoplasm

  • Glucose

  • Glycolysis

  • Pyruvate

• Aerobic respiration

• Matrix

  • Krebs Cycle

  • Electron transport chain

    • Inter-membrane space

    • ATP synthase

• Anaerobic respiration

  • Lactate

  • Ethanol

Textbook Reading and/or Activities

• Click HERE for a pdf of chapter 2.

Notes

2.8 Cellular Respiration

A detailed set of notes, prepared by Bob Smullen, examining all of the IB learning expectations.

i-Biology Notes (Not available)

A detailed set of notes, prepared by Stephen Taylor, examining U1 - U8 and A1 - A4.

i-Biology Study Questions

A series of questions, prepared by Stephen Taylor, to help check your understanding of the IB learning expectations. This is VERY GOOD practice.

Bioknowledgy Notes

A detailed set of notes, created by Chris Paine, examining all of the IB learning expectations.

Bioknowledgy Study Questions

A series of questions, created by Chris Paine, to help check your understanding of the IB learning expectations. This is VERY GOOD practice.

2.8 Notes

A detailed set of notes, prepared by Jacob Cedarbaum, examining all of the IB learning expectations.

2.8 Study Question (NEW Syllabus)

(OLD Syllabus)

A series of questions, prepared by Jacob Cedarbaum, to help check your understanding of the IB learning expectations. This is VERY GOOD practice. Answers (OLD).

Learning Activities

Worksheet - Understanding Cellular Respiration

Helps breakdown the process involved throughout cell respiration.

**Note that there are a number of video links available in the worksheet above to help visualize the process.

Glycolysis Animation and Notes

This detailed animation (more detailed than is required for SL Bio), produced by John Kyrk, outlines the process of glycolysis as the beginning of cellular respiration (including all molecular modifications and energy involved).

Krebs Cycle Animation and Notes

This detailed animation (more detailed than is required for SL Bio), produced by John Kyrk, outlines the transition reaction and the Krebs cycle of cellular respiration (including all molecular modifications and energy involved).

Mitochondrial Structure and Electron Transport Chain

This detailed animation (only slightly more detailed than is required for SL Bio), produced by John Kyrk, outlines the double membrane structure of the mitochondrion and the process involved in the electron transport chain of cellular respiration (including all energy involved).