Observations of Cellular Respiration
Laboratory 9, AP Biology
Abstract. In our lab designed by Flinn Scientific Company, we set out to discover the respiration rates of plant seeds, specifically barley seeds. We first set up respirometers, fit with KOH, a substance that absorbs CO2, and barley seeds, and submerged them in water to provide a complete seal. We then put manometer fluid at the tips of the respirometers, which would flow down the tube based on pressure changes. These pressure changes, and the movement of the fluid, would show the barley seeds’ respiration rate, or whether they were breathing at all (Flinn Science Co 2012). We found the non-germinated seeds to be respiring much faster than the germinated seeds (Chowdhury, Fox, Paneet 2015).
Introduction
In this experiment we were aiming to simulate the respiration process that plants and most living things do. Respiration is the process in which living things such as plants and animals consume “food” in order to produce energy for living processes. The process of respiration takes place in the mitochondria of the cell. The mitochondria consumes glucose in order to produce ATP or energy the cell needs. First, glycolysis takes place in order to break down the glucose; glucose is broken down and turned into pyruvic acid. Afterwards, the pyruvic acid that was created is then turned into CO2 in what is known as the Krebs Cycle. Finally, the last step in the process of Respiration involves the Electron Transport Chain. In this step, the energy is produced for the cell resulting around 28 ATP. This all ties back to our experiment we did, by trying to create respiration using plant seeds. Our seeds were given their “food” (water) and as they grew, they created small amounts of CO2, that supported the fact that living organisms create CO2 when they respire and then measured it (Flinn Science Company 2012). The purpose of this lab was to find out if germinating seeds were respiring more frequently than non-germinating seeds. Our original hypothesis was that the germinating seeds would respire more.
Methods
Beginning our lab, we first had to set up respirators. To do this, we started with basic syringes. We hot-glued a capillary tube to the small opening of the syringe. We then placed small lug nuts on either end of the syringe to both reinforce the hot-glue bond and weigh down the syringe (which would be later placed in water) (Figure 1). Next we placed manometer fluid inside the capillary in order to prepare it (Figure 6). Next, a small piece of cotton ball was placed inside, followed by 0.5 mL of KOH, followed by non-absorbent cotton. It was after this step that 10 barley seeds were finally placed inside the respirator and the syringe closed for the last time (Flinn Science Co 2012) (Figure 2, 6).
We submerged our respirators in room temperature (72º Fahrenheit) water for 3 minutes to acclimate the seeds and chemicals to the surroundings (Figure 6). With one final addition of manometer fluid to the tip of the capillary, we began a 10 minute observation period, observing and noting the movements of the manometer fluid in each capillary (Chowdhury, Fox, Paneet 2015) (Flinn Science Co 2012) (Figure 3).
Results
Using Microsoft Excel, we have been able to visualize our data. We found the non-germinating seeds to have been respiring at a rate of around 0.1 cubic centimeters of O2 per minute (Figure 7). However, we observed the germinating seeds to have almost no respiration. Using this data, we can extrapolate that non-germinating seeds respire far more than germinating seeds (Chowdhury, Fox, Paneet 2015).
Discussion
The findings of this study represented the amount of respiration done by the seeds inside of the respirometer. Using the germinated seeds and the non-germinated seeds as a control we were able to find the rate of respiration of barley seeds. The rate turned out to be around 0.1 cm3 of O2 per minute. From this data, we have found that non-germinating seeds of barley respire more than germinating seeds. This was not at all what we expected. This difference may have resulted in faulty seals made on the respirometers. Or, even worse, the germinating seeds may have died in the process of trying to germinate them. If possible, we would have used more seeds and a more reliable way of germinating than we originally had done.
Conclusion
The purpose of this lab was to demonstrate the respiration rate of seeds. We know that germinating seeds are more likely to have a higher respiration rate. However, our respiration rate did not support this data. Our data suggested that non-germinating seeds have a quicker respiration rate.
Citations
Chowdhury, Fox, Paneet (2015). Cellular Respiration Student Input.
Cellular Respiration. (2012). Retrieved March 18, 2015, from https://s3.amazonaws.com/echo_files/20140121/_1390325189_Cellular%20Respiration%20Lab.pdf
Carter, J. (2014, February 2). Cellular Respiration. Retrieved March 19, 2015, from http://biology.clc.uc.edu/courses/bio104/cellresp.htm
Laboratory 9, AP Biology
Abstract. In our lab designed by Flinn Scientific Company, we set out to discover the respiration rates of plant seeds, specifically barley seeds. We first set up respirometers, fit with KOH, a substance that absorbs CO2, and barley seeds, and submerged them in water to provide a complete seal. We then put manometer fluid at the tips of the respirometers, which would flow down the tube based on pressure changes. These pressure changes, and the movement of the fluid, would show the barley seeds’ respiration rate, or whether they were breathing at all (Flinn Science Co 2012). We found the non-germinated seeds to be respiring much faster than the germinated seeds (Chowdhury, Fox, Paneet 2015).
Introduction
In this experiment we were aiming to simulate the respiration process that plants and most living things do. Respiration is the process in which living things such as plants and animals consume “food” in order to produce energy for living processes. The process of respiration takes place in the mitochondria of the cell. The mitochondria consumes glucose in order to produce ATP or energy the cell needs. First, glycolysis takes place in order to break down the glucose; glucose is broken down and turned into pyruvic acid. Afterwards, the pyruvic acid that was created is then turned into CO2 in what is known as the Krebs Cycle. Finally, the last step in the process of Respiration involves the Electron Transport Chain. In this step, the energy is produced for the cell resulting around 28 ATP. This all ties back to our experiment we did, by trying to create respiration using plant seeds. Our seeds were given their “food” (water) and as they grew, they created small amounts of CO2, that supported the fact that living organisms create CO2 when they respire and then measured it (Flinn Science Company 2012). The purpose of this lab was to find out if germinating seeds were respiring more frequently than non-germinating seeds. Our original hypothesis was that the germinating seeds would respire more.
Methods
Beginning our lab, we first had to set up respirators. To do this, we started with basic syringes. We hot-glued a capillary tube to the small opening of the syringe. We then placed small lug nuts on either end of the syringe to both reinforce the hot-glue bond and weigh down the syringe (which would be later placed in water) (Figure 1). Next we placed manometer fluid inside the capillary in order to prepare it (Figure 6). Next, a small piece of cotton ball was placed inside, followed by 0.5 mL of KOH, followed by non-absorbent cotton. It was after this step that 10 barley seeds were finally placed inside the respirator and the syringe closed for the last time (Flinn Science Co 2012) (Figure 2, 6).
We submerged our respirators in room temperature (72º Fahrenheit) water for 3 minutes to acclimate the seeds and chemicals to the surroundings (Figure 6). With one final addition of manometer fluid to the tip of the capillary, we began a 10 minute observation period, observing and noting the movements of the manometer fluid in each capillary (Chowdhury, Fox, Paneet 2015) (Flinn Science Co 2012) (Figure 3).
Results
Using Microsoft Excel, we have been able to visualize our data. We found the non-germinating seeds to have been respiring at a rate of around 0.1 cubic centimeters of O2 per minute (Figure 7). However, we observed the germinating seeds to have almost no respiration. Using this data, we can extrapolate that non-germinating seeds respire far more than germinating seeds (Chowdhury, Fox, Paneet 2015).
Discussion
The findings of this study represented the amount of respiration done by the seeds inside of the respirometer. Using the germinated seeds and the non-germinated seeds as a control we were able to find the rate of respiration of barley seeds. The rate turned out to be around 0.1 cm3 of O2 per minute. From this data, we have found that non-germinating seeds of barley respire more than germinating seeds. This was not at all what we expected. This difference may have resulted in faulty seals made on the respirometers. Or, even worse, the germinating seeds may have died in the process of trying to germinate them. If possible, we would have used more seeds and a more reliable way of germinating than we originally had done.
Conclusion
The purpose of this lab was to demonstrate the respiration rate of seeds. We know that germinating seeds are more likely to have a higher respiration rate. However, our respiration rate did not support this data. Our data suggested that non-germinating seeds have a quicker respiration rate.
Citations
Chowdhury, Fox, Paneet (2015). Cellular Respiration Student Input.
Cellular Respiration. (2012). Retrieved March 18, 2015, from https://s3.amazonaws.com/echo_files/20140121/_1390325189_Cellular%20Respiration%20Lab.pdf
Carter, J. (2014, February 2). Cellular Respiration. Retrieved March 19, 2015, from http://biology.clc.uc.edu/courses/bio104/cellresp.htm