Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Class 12 Respiration Notes-1-2
Class 12 Respiration Notes-1-2
Structure of Mitochondria
Remember: Mitochondriais the plural word, e.g. some eukaryotic cells contain many mitochondria. The single word is
mitochondrion e.g. a single mitochondrion is too small to be seen using the ahuman eye - but can be studied using an
electron microscope. This page could equally be entitled "Structure of a Mitochondrion".
Mitochondria are present in all eukaryotic cells - including all animal cells and plant cells.
However the number of mitochondria in each cell varies enormously - from just one
mitochondrion up to 10,000 mitochondria in some specialized types of cells. A "typical"
number of mitochondria per cell is around 200 - but of course many diagrams of cells only
show a small number to represent the presence of at least one mitochondrion in the cell.
Mitochondria have an ellipsoid, that is "oval-shaped" or "rounded rod-like" shape. Some
books describe them as "cigar-shaped". Mitochondria are continually active. They move and
can change their exact shape. The following diagram of a mitochondrion is a very simple
two-dimensional representation of the main parts and contents of a mitochondrion - intended
to support introductory courses e.g. A-Level Biology.
Mitochondria are organelles that have a double membrane structure. The outer membrane
defines the external shape of the mitochondrion. The inner membrane has many folds called
cristae. (Cristae is the plural word for more than one crista.) The volume between the inner
and outer membranes is called the intermembrane space, which is sometimes written "inter
membrane space". The volume enclosed by the inner membrane is called the "matrix" or, if
written in full, the matrix of the mitochondrion.
The matrix of each mitochondrion contains the enzymes of the TCA cycle, which is also
known more fully as the tricarboxylic acid cycle - and also as the citric acid cycle, the Krebs
cycle, and the Szent-Györgyi–Krebs cycle. The matrix also contains other structures and
molecules including ribosomes, matrix granules and mitochondrial DNA.
................................................................................................................................
.............
(b) Place a cross in the box that correctly identifies each of the following.
(i) Using the information in the diagram and the graph, suggest an
explanation for the differences in oxygen uptake between bacteria using
pyruvic acid, molecule B and molecule C as a substrate.
(4)
................................................................................................................................
.............
................................................................................................................................
.............
................................................................................................................................
.............
................................................................................................................................
.............
................................................................................................................................
.............
................................................................................................................................
.............
................................................................................................................................
.............
................................................................................................................................
.............
................................................................................................................................
.............
................................................................................................................................
.............
................................................................................................................................
.............
................................................................................................................................
.............
(ii) Suggest one reason for the rapid oxygen uptake by bacteria in a medium
containing lactic acid. Give an explanation for your answer.
(2)
................................................................................................................................
.............
................................................................................................................................
.............
................................................................................................................................
.............
................................................................................................................................
.............
................................................................................................................................
.............
................................................................................................................................
.............
(Total for question = 9 marks)
Q2.
Respiration is a metabolic process which consists of many steps.
(a) The diagram below shows a metabolic process consisting of three steps.
................................................................................................................................
.............
................................................................................................................................
.............
................................................................................................................................
.............
................................................................................................................................
.............
................................................................................................................................
.............
................................................................................................................................
.............
................................................................................................................................
.............
................................................................................................................................
.............
................................................................................................................................
.............
................................................................................................................................
.............
(b) The diagram below shows the electron transport chain, which is part of
aerobic respiration.
(i) Using the information in the diagram, name substance W and explain
how it is formed.
(3)
................................................................................................................................
.............
................................................................................................................................
.............
................................................................................................................................
.............
................................................................................................................................
.............
................................................................................................................................
.............
................................................................................................................................
.............
................................................................................................................................
.............
................................................................................................................................
.............
................................................................................................................................
.............
................................................................................................................................
.............
................................................................................................................................
.............
................................................................................................................................
.............
................................................................................................................................
.............
................................................................................................................................
.............
................................................................................................................................
.............
................................................................................................................................
.............
................................................................................................................................
.............
................................................................................................................................
.............
................................................................................................................................
.............
................................................................................................................................
.............
(c) The diagram below shows a respirometer used to measure the rate of
aerobic respiration in small organisms.