Bhayana 1

Mahima Bhayana
Mrs. Deemer
AP Biology Periods 1 & 2
14 December 2013
Cellular Respiration: An Informal Lab Report
Introduction:
We all need energy to function and we get this energy from the foods we eat. The most
efficient way for cells to harvest energy stored in food is through cellular respiration, a
catabolic pathway for the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP, a high energy
molecule, is expended by working cells. Cellular respiration occurs in both eukaryotic and
prokaryotic cells.
Cellular respiration has three main stages: glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and electron
transport:
1. Glycolysis: Glucose is split into two molecules called pyruvate and 2 ATP molecules are
generate per molecule of glucose as well as 2 molecules of NADH. Glycolysis takes place in
the cytoplasm of the cell and does not require oxygen.
2. Krebs Cycle (also known as the Citric Acid Cycle): Uses the pyruvate molecules from
Glycolysis to generate 2 ATP as well as several molecules of FADH2 and NADH for the
electron transport chain. Krebs cycle takes place in the mitochondrial matrix and requires
oxygen.
3. Electron transport chain (ETC): Using the NADH and FADH2 molecules formed during
Glycolysis and Krebs cycle, the electron transport chain creates a proton gradient that
ultimately leads to the production of about 32 molecules of ATP. The ETC takes place in the
mitochondrial matrix and requires oxygen.
The molecular breakdown for the chemical reaction of cellular respiration is as follows:
C6H12O6 + 9O2 6CO2 + 6H2O + Energy

All cells from living organisms undergo cellular respiration. Respiration occurs in the
mitochondria of eukaryotic cells and in the cytoplasm of prokaryotic cells.

Bhayana 2

Apparatus and Procedures:
In this lab, we used CO2 and O2 gas sensors to monitor the carbon dioxide produced and
the oxygen consumed by peas during cellular respiration. We tested germinating and non-
germinating peas, as well as germinating peas at two different temperatures. Along with
these trials, we did a trial in which we tested the rate of respiration of kidney beans.
The first thing we did was to set up our lab station. We did this by obtaining the carbon
dioxide and oxygen sensors, thermometer, and laptop. Then, the needed file was opened
from the online Logger Pro documents.
To begin, our first trial, specifically, the control, we obtained a pack of glass beads. Twenty-
five glass beads were placed in the apparatus, the oxygen and carbon dioxide sensors were
attached and data was collected for ten minutes. The apparatus that we constructed is
pictured in figure three. We then took out the glass beads, and repeated the steps of data
collection for twenty five non-germinating peas. The aforementioned procedure was
repeated again for twenty five peas germinating at room temperature, twenty five peas
germinating at a cool temperature, and twenty five germinating kidney beans. All of these
trials were ten minutes long.
The variables we manipulated in this lab were the conditions of germinating and non-
germinating beans, this included temperature, and peas versus kidney beans. The glass
beads were used as the control. Variables held constant included the temperature of the
apparatus, amount of beans put inside the apparatus, and length of trial time.


Oxygen Sensor Carbon Dioxide Sensor Respiration Apparatus
(Figure 1) (Figure 2) (Figure 3)



Bhayana 3

Observations & Results:
Table 1
Condition Temperature
Room 2.5 Degrees Celsius

Conclusion:
From this lab, I learned that peas and kidney beans undergo cellular respiration, and this
can be proved through analysis of the graphs. Looking at the graphs, it is apparent that
oxygen was consumed in all of the trials and that carbon dioxide was produced in all of
them except the control trial consisting of the glass beads. I also learned about the effect of
germination on the rate of cellular respiration. Germinating seeds have a higher rate of
respiration because they are growing and need a steady supply of oxygen, this is
manifested in the significantly higher rates for the germinating seeds in comparison to
those who were not germinating. For example, beans germinating at room temperature
and cool temperature had respiration rates of .09015 and .06505 in comparison to the non-
germinating seeds and their respiration rate of .006322. I also learned about the effect of
temperature on the rate of cell respiration in peas. It is obvious from the data tables and
graphs that the rate of respiration at room temperature was much higher than the rate of
respiration at the cooler temperature. This theory can be proven from the .09015
respiration rate at room temperature which is significantly higher than the respiration rate
at a cooler temperature which was .06505. So, in conclusion, rates of respiration increase if
the beans are germinating versus non-germinating and if the beans are kept at warmer
temperatures versus cooler temperatures.
Table 2
Peas CO2
Rate of
Respiration
(ppt/min)
02
Rate of Respiration
(ppt/min)
Germinating, Room Temperature .09015 -.1778
Non-germinating, Room Temperature .006322 -.02489
Germinating, Cool Temperature .06505 -.01904
Glass Beads -.003175 -.1248
Kidney Beans .3026 -.3047