Mike+M-Tyler-CR+essays

26. Tom notices that he is a lot more short of breath after he finishes a 200 meter sprint than when he jogs for 3 miles. He is confused because he feels as if he should feel more tired when he runs for a much longer distance. Explain to him why it makes sense that he is indeed more short of breath after running a sprint than jogging. Make sure to explain it using your scientific knowledge of cellular respiration.

You are more out of breath after a short sprint because when you take a longer jog, you don't use your energy as fast and at once as you would with a sprint, so your cell's mitochondrion can maintain a steady pace of oxygen to produce more ATP using aerobic respiration. But when you sprint, you use all your energy at a much faster rate, so your ATP is not getting enough Oxygen and it goes through anaerobic respiration to produce lactase which builds up in your cells. Once you stop jogging, your body starts to produce more ATP again since more oxygen is present and it gets rid of the lactase that built up in your mucles.

27. A scientist isolates mitochondria form human cells and places them in an acid solution. The acid penetrates the intermembranous space of the mitochondria. The scientist then notices that the mitochondria start making ATP despite the fact that he is not providing any glucose for them. How is it possible that the mitochondria are still making ATP? (Think back to what an acid is, what it releases when placed in a solution and why this would make the mitochondria synthesize ATP).

Oxygen is constantly provided for the cell and travel through it. When you put an acid inside the cell as well it startes a chemical reaction that makes the mitochondria begin producing ATP once more. When an acid is added to the mitochondria that is neutral the acid releases certain chemicals that are a sufficient replacement for glucose. Therefore, the electron transport chain can synthesize ATP once again using the sugar provided by the acid.

28. Genetic testing reveals that baby Helen has a defective gene that results in the defective production of one of the proteins in the electron transport chain. Because of faulty instructions in her DNA, one of the proteins in her ETC is mis-shapen, and therefore it cannot perform its function as efficiently. Baby Helen is “failing to thrive” as she is having a hard time gaining weight and reaching developmental milestones. Using your knowledge of the ETC and its role in making ATP, explain why you think baby Helen is having the problems described above.

With cells especially, the phrase "structure fits function" means that if a person's cells don't look exactly the way their supposed to than they cannot perform their function appropriately. When the cells are mishapen they cannot make ATP as well leading to a longer time before they get to the next phase. Now since the hydrogen ions cannot transport to the other side of the mitochondrion's membrane, they will not be able to be synthesized into ATP. The girl then does not have much energy produced compared to a normal person and she may not be able to carry out cellular processes, physical processes, and growing due to a lack of energy.

29. Compare the basic transformation of energy during photosynthesis and cellular respiration.

Photosynthesis' reactants which are light energy, water, and carbon dioxide. The products of cellular respiration are the same compounds that are the reactants of photosynthesis, with ATP being similar to light energy. The reactants of cellular respiration are glucose and oxygen, and these are produced by photosynthesis.

30. Describe the role of ATP in biochemical reactions. What is ATP used for in your cells? How do your cells get energy out of a molecule of ATP? How is ATP recharged?

 In Cellular Respiration ATP is a product of the process and released into the air while in Photosynthesis it is a reaction in the form of sunlight that gives energy to the plant. ATP is used to power all processes that happen constantly inside the cell. The cell takes energy from the molecule of ATP by breaking it down and taking what it needs and discarding the rest. ATP is recharged by new electrons that enter the cell.