Quantifying Cellular Respiration: Exploring the Impact of

Germination and Temperature on Oxygen Consumption in Peas

James J. Obasiolu

Mrs. Schwab’s Period 4A AP Biology Course

Group Members: Akash Dada, Devjot Kaur (on leave), Emily Santrac

Lap Group 3

Atholton High School

Tuesday, November 21, 202

 Results

Data Table & Graph were handed in physically.

Scatter Plot Figure Caption & Explanation of Results Caption

Fig. 2. This scatter plot depicts the Corrected O2 Consumption Levels in mL for every five
minutes over a 20-minute interval for germinating and non-germinating peas at two different
temperatures (10°C and 22°C). Each point represents the change in oxygen consumption from
the initial reading at each time point. The line of best fit helps visualizes the overall trend in
respiration rates and the slope of this line represents the change oxygen consumption in
mL/min.
In the 22°C germinating peas, oxygen consumption steadily increased from 0.06 mL at 5 minutes
to 0.23 mL at 20 minutes. In the 10°C germinating peas, oxygen consumption increased even
more intensely from 0.14 mL at 5 minutes to .24 mL at 20 minutes. In the 22°C non-germinating
peas, oxygen consumption did not increase much, from 0 mL at 5 minutes to .01 mL at 20
minutes. In the 10°C non-germinating peas, oxygen consumption did not increase at all,
maintaining a steady -0.02 mL at 5 minutes to -0.02 mL at 20 minutes.
 Discussion

In the context of this experiment, the corrected difference of the O2 consumption were graphed
instead of the direct measurements; this was pivotal for refining the accuracy and reliability of
our assessment of oxygen consumption. The correction process specifically addresses potential
interferences stemming from non-biological elements, such as the presence of glass beads,
which do not perform cellular respiration. By subtracting the oxygen consumption attributed to
the beads at each time point from both the initial and subsequent readings, the true oxygen
consumption originating from the cellular respiration of the germinating or non-germinating
peas can be effectively isolated.
This correction mechanism assumes significance in the context of understanding actual cellular
respiration or measuring it accurately. It ensures that the recorded oxygen consumption values
predominantly reflect the metabolic activity of the peas, providing researchers and scientists
with data that is more directly pertinent to the biological processes under investigation.
Influences, like variations in ambient temperature or changes in atmospheric pressure (due to
vibrations from leaning on the table, stomping or footsteps, or other movements), can
introduce confounding factors into the experimental setup. By employing the correction
method for the O2 consumption, we minimize the impact of these external variables, allowing
for a more precise evaluation of the respiratory activity associated with the germinating and
non-germinating peas. This approach strengthens the validity of our findings and reinforces the
relevance of the experiment's outcomes to the broader context of cellular respiration.
When temperatures are higher, so is the rate of cellular respiration for germinating peas that
require oxygen; the opposite is true when temperatures are colder—the rate of cellular
respiration is lower and slows down. This correlation is rooted in the basic principles of enzyme
kinetics, as enzymes, which play a fundamental role in cellular respiration, typically exhibit
increased activity with elevated temperatures, up to a certain point.
Temperature influences the kinetic energy of molecules, including those involved in metabolic
reactions. In cellular respiration, temperature impacts the speed at which enzymes facilitate
biochemical reactions, affecting both glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation (which play a part
in photosynthesis, respiration, and other energy-producing processes). At higher temperatures,
enzyme-substrate interactions occur more frequently and with greater energy, resulting in an
accelerated rate of respiration.
It's crucial to note, however, that this relationship is not linear, and there is an optimal
temperature range for enzymatic activity. Beyond this range, the structure of enzymes may
become denatured, leading to a decline in their efficiency and, consequently, a reduction in the
rate of respiration (this upper ceiling is different depending on the enzyme). Outside of the
experiment, therefore, understanding the effect of temperature on respiration is essential for
deciphering how environmental conditions influence the metabolic processes of living
organisms, especially as temperatures rise from climate change and global warming.
 Discussion

For example, O2 consumption levels steadily rose from 0 mL to 0.23 mL from 0 to 20 minutes for
germinating peas in 22°C (increases of approximately 0.0116 mL/min), with 0.06, 0.11, and 0.18
mL being the O2 consumption levels at 5, 10, and 15 minutes, respectively. For germinating peas
in 10°C, O2 consumption levels rose slightly more intensely than with 22°C (which was a
statistical anomaly and represents an incorrect cellular respiration relationship), increasing from
0 mL to 0.24 from 0 to 20 minutes (and reaching levels as high as 0.25 mL at 15 minutes), with
0.10, 0.15, and 0.25 mL being the O2 consumption levels at 5, 10, and 15 minutes, respectively.
The data in this experiment for germinating peas at 10°C was flawed and did not accurately
represent the temperature’s effect on cellular respiration—being that respiration increases as
temperature does—and this was likely due to sources of error and disruptions occurring at
incredible levels. For example, the lab group measuring the 10°C data that this lab group utilized
in the results section had an air conditioning unit vent above their lab station that turned on
shortly after they began measurements for the 20-minute period, which affected air pressure,
caused vibrations in the water, and likely changed the temperature to a slight degree. All these
combined could have directly raised the corrected O2 consumption amounts, leading to
discrepancies with the 22°C.
Due to issues and sources of error in the data collection process and the unreliability of the
results for the germinating peas at 10°C, this data was not significant in determining if
temperature affected respiration in an explainable way, as lower temperatures in this
experiment yielded higher corrected O2 consumption levels than higher temperatures. Thus, by
using the current data, it’s not possible to draw any robust conclusions, and it’s possible that
this lab group needs to perform further experiments to strengthen the validity of its findings.
A 10°C temperature would affect the respiration rate in an insect (ectotherm) much less than it
would affect that of a mammal (endotherm). Unlike mammals, insects are ectothermic,
meaning their internal body temperature is largely influenced by the environment around them.
As a result, the metabolic rate of insects is highly temperature-dependent, and if they’re in a
colder environment of 10°C than, say, 22°C, it would likely decrease their cellular respiration
rate much more than for mammal. Furthermore, mammals have evolved sophisticated
physiological mechanisms for maintaining and relatively constant internal temperature, while
insects rely on certain behavioral adaptations to seek out optimal temperature conditions, like
flying towards light sources at night for moths or other bugs at night; this is always insects may
become less active at colder temperatures.