Potential command term assessment statements

AHL Topic 8: Metabolism, cell respiration and photosynthesis

8.2 Cell Respiration
Essential Idea: Energy is converted to a usable form in cell respiration.
Nature of science: Paradigm shiftthe chemiosmotic theory led to a paradigm shift in the field of
bioenergetics.
State that cell respiration involves the oxidation and reduction of electron carriers.

State that oxidation involves the loss of electrons from an element, whereas reduction involves a gain of
electrons; and that oxidation frequently involves gaining oxygen or losing hydrogen, whereas reduction
frequently involves losing oxygen or gaining hydrogen.

State that the phosphorylation of molecules makes them less stable.

State that glycolysis gives a small net gain of ATP without the use of oxygen.

Outline the process of glycolysis, including phosphorylation, lysis, oxidation and ATP formation in the
cytoplasm. One hexose sugar is converted into two three-carbon atom pyruvates with a net gain of two ATP
and two NADH + H+. The names of the intermediate compounds in glycolysis are not required.

Explain aerobic cell respiration takes place in the mitochondria of eukaryotes beginning with the link reaction
where pyruvate is decarboxylated and oxidized, and converted into acetyl compound and attached to
coenzyme A to form acetyl coenzyme A.

Explain the Krebs cycle, where the oxidation of acetyl groups is coupled to the reduction of hydrogen carriers,
liberating carbon dioxide. The names of the intermediate compounds in the Krebs cycle are not required.
Each C2 acetyl group from the link reaction joins with C4 oxaloacetate to form C6 citrate (citric acid)
One C2 acetyl group yields two waste product CO2 : C2 + C4 C6 C5 (+CO2) C4 (CO2)
Oxidation of carbon compounds yields three NADH and one FADH2 high energy electron carriers
o NAD+ NADH (NAD is reduced to NADH)
o FAD FADH2 (FAD is reduced to FADH2)
One substrate level ATP is produced from one C2 acetyl group: ADP + Pi ATP

Analyse diagrams of the pathways of aerobic respiration to deduce where decarboxylation and oxidation
reactions occur.
 Potential command term assessment statements

State that energy released by oxidation reactions is carried to the cristae of the mitochondria by reduced NAD
and FAD (NADH and FADH2).

Explain how the transfer of electrons between carriers in the electron transport chain in the membrane of the
cristae is coupled to proton pumping.

Explain how in chemiosmosis protons diffuse through ATP synthase to generate ATP.

State that oxygen is needed to bind with the free protons to maintain the hydrogen gradient, resulting in the
formation of water.

Explain the relationship between the structure of the mitochondrion and its adaptation to its function.
Christae form a large surface area for the electron transport chain.
The small space between the inner and outer membranes for the accumulation of protons.
The fluid matrix contain enzymes of the Krebs cycle.

Annotate a diagram of a mitochondrion to indicate the adaptations to its function.

Analyse electron tomographs used to produce images of active mitochondria:

http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/TFrey/MitoMovie.htm

Theory of Knowledge: Peter Mitchells chemiosmotic theory encountered years of opposition before it
was finally accepted. For what reasons does falsification not always result in an immediate
acceptance of new theories or a paradigm shift?