Biology notes : chapter 12 respiration

Respiration: breakdown of food molecules with the release of energy in living cells.

How is respiration controlled? - through a series of reactions that are controlled by

enzymes.

Types of respiration: aerobic and anaerobic

Aerobic respiration: chemical breakdown of food molecules in the presence of oxygen.

(large amount of energy in released)

Anaerobic respiration: chemical breakdown of food molecules in the absence of oxygen.

(lesser oxygen is released)

-Lactic acid is formed during anaerobic respiration in the muscles.

-Lactic acid is the byproduct of anaerobic respiration. It is the fuel for our cell breakdown
during intense exercises. When it is in the body in high amounts, it can cause muscle burns,
fatigue and also tissue damaged after intense workouts.

-Oxygen debt is the oxygen required after intense exercise to oxidise the lactic acid
created from anaerobic respiration

-oxygen debt can be removed from our body by continuation of deeper and faster breathing
or continuation of faster heart rate.

Effects of exercise on breathing:

- frequency and depth of breathing increase. This is because muscles are working harder
and need more oxygen to function. (body breaths through aerobic respiration in default)
-if the energy demand cant be met the body automatically begins to respire anaerobically,
producing lactic acid.

-lactic acid need to be removed after exercise as the low ph can denature the enzymes in
the body and stop bodily process.

-they can be removed by repaying the oxygen debt. The longer it takes the more lactic acid
produced during exercise and greater the oxygen debt that needs to be repaid.

Similarities between aerobic and anaerobic respiration:

- both processes release energy
- both involve the breakdown of food molecules
- both processes require enzyme to catalyse the breakdown of food molecules

Difference between aerobic and anaerobic respiration:

Uptake of oxygen by respiring organisms:

- investigating aerobic respiration in living organism by measuring the amount of oxygen
they take from the air. This is done by measuring the change in volume of air in an
enclosed tube. However as they respire they give out carbon dioxide which increases
gas volume. The carbon dioxide needs to be removed from the tube first using
chemicals like soda lime or sodium hydroxide. The apparatus used to measure the air
volume is known as a respirometer. And small organisms can be used in the apparatus like
seeds or arthropods.
Effect on temperature on the rate of respiration:

- To investigate the effect of temperature on the rate of respiration of germinating

seeds, the respirometer can be set up and the tubes submerged in a series of water
baths set at various temperatures.
- The seeds should be kept in the water bath to get acclimated to the temperature.
- As respiration is an enzyme controlled reaction, it is highly unlikely to work faster
beyond around 40 degree celsius as the enzymes will denature.