Notes: Energy Transformations in

Living Organisms: Cellular

Respiration
p. 91-93
Unit 3: Energy Transformations
Chapter 9, Sections 1 & 2 (Pages 220-232)

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Review: Producers
Producers get their

energy from the sun.

Producers convert this
light energy into
stored chemical
energy (glucose).
This process is called
photosynthesis.

Biology

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Review: Consumers
Consumers get their

energy from the

producers.
Consumers convert
stored chemical
energy (glucose) into
usable chemical
energy (ATP).
This process is called
cellular respiration.
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Cellular Respiration (aerobic)

Cellular respiration is the process by which

glucose (C6H12O6) is broken down to release

energy for making ATP, another form of
chemical energy.

Biology

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Aerobic Respiration Equation

C6H12O6 + 6 O2
food

oxygen

(glucose, a carbohydrate)

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6 H2O + 6 CO2 + 36 ATP

water

carbon
dioxide

BioTheme: Interdependence!

Photosynthesis:
6 H2O + 6 CO2 + energy (sun) C6H12O6 + 6 O2

Aerobic Cellular Respiration:

C6H12O6 + 6 O2 6 H2O + 6 CO2 + energy (ATP)

Biology

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Why ATP? An analogy to money

Glucose in our food is a great source of energy! ($100 bill)
However, individual cell processes may only require a small

amount of energy ($1 bill)

Analogy: most vending machines do not accept $100 bills!
We need a smaller form of currency for these processes.
ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is this important cellular
currency for life.
ATP releases more appropriate amounts of energy for the
individual cellular processes that require energy.
(We will study this molecule in detail in our next activity!)
Biology

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The BIG Question is

Do only animals respire?
Or do plants respire too?
Only plants perform photosynthesis
Plants AND animals perform cellular

respiration!
(Can you explain why??)
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Site of Cellular Respiration

Plant and animal cells contain mitochondria: cell

structures that transform chemical energy from

glucose to ATP.

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Significant ATP Production

Aerobic cellular respiration releases energy

SLOWLY, using oxygen to convert ONE

molecule of glucose to 36 ATP!

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Cellular Respiration (anaerobic)

What happens when cells dont have enough oxygen?
Some organisms live in an oxygen-free environment.

How do they get their energy?

Biology

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Cellular Respiration (anaerobic)

Anaerobic respiration is also called

fermentation, or the process by which

energy is released from glucose when oxygen
is NOT available.
This process allows organisms to continue to
produce energy until oxygen is available.
However, this process only releases 2 ATP
per molecule of glucose.
Biology

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Alcoholic Fermentation
Anaerobic way of converting energy for

yeast and other microorganisms

Glucose broken down to produce alcohol,
CO2 and energy (ATP)
C6H12O6 ethanol + CO2 + 2 ATP
EX: baking bread with yeast

fermenting wine & beer

Biology

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Fermentation - Bread
Source of sugar?
DOUGH! (sugar and/or flour)
Yeast use up the O2 and ferment sugar
Produce CO2, which is trapped within

tiny bubbles & results in the dough rising

Produce ethanol, which evaporates in the

baking process
Biology

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Fermentation - Wine
Source of sugar?
GRAPES!
Yeast use up the O2 and ferment sugar
Produce CO2 (kept only in champagne)
Produce ethanol (% alcohol varies

based on sugar content of grapes and

# of fermentations)

Biology

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Fermentation - Beer
Source of sugar?
BARLEY!
Yeast use up the O2 and ferment sugar
Hops are added as a preservative

and for added flavor

Produce CO2 and ethanol also
Various carbohydrates can be used to make

alcohol including wheat, rice, and potatoes!

Biology

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Other side effects of fermentation?!

Drunken Swedish moose drowns after

fermented apple binge

http://www.usatoday.com/news/offbeat/2006-11-24-moose_x.htm

Drunk Moose Invade Seniors Home

http://www.wtopnews.com/index.php?nid=456&sid=620430

Biology

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Lactic Acid Fermentation

Anaerobic way of converting energy in

animal cells and some microorganisms

Glucose broken down to produce lactic
acid, CO2 and energy (ATP)
C6H12O6 lactic acid + CO2 + 2 ATP
EX: muscle cells during strenuous exercise

fermenting cheese, yogurt, sour cream

Biology

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Strenuous Exercise
Lactic acid is produced by your muscle

cells during rapid exercise when the body

cannot supply enough O2 to tissues.
Without enough O2, the body is NOT able

to produce all of the ATP that is required.

The buildup of lactic acid can cause painful
burning in your muscles!
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Minimal ATP Production

In the absence of oxygen, anaerobic

respiration only releases 2 ATP for

each molecule of glucose broken
down.

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Comparing ATP Production

First, your body breaks down glucose through

aerobic respiration to produce 36 ATP per

glucose molecule; however, this is a slow
process.
When muscle cells cannot get enough O2 they
break down glucose through lactic acid
fermentation to produce 2 ATP per glucose
Therefore, AEROBIC RESPIRATION is much

more efficient in terms of ATP production

36 ATP compared to 2 ATP!

Biology

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Aerobic Training
Ex: long runs, biking, swimming

Can increase the size and number of

mitochondria in muscle cells

Can increase the delivery of O2 to
muscles by improving the heart and
lungs
Biology

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Anaerobic Training
Ex: sprints, strides,

quick bursts of energy

Increase the glycogen levels in the

muscles
Increase bodys tolerance to lactic acid
Biology

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