32. (10 pts) Refer to the figure on the right, showing results from a glucose ab

Question

32. (10 pts) Refer to the figure on the right, showing results from a glucose absorption experiment. The data were collected under two experimental conditions: Aerobic and Anaerobic, as shown. 60 Aerobic 50 40 30- 20 How do these results support or refute our model of glucose uptake by active transport mechanisms? Anaerobic 10 0 10 20 30 40 50 Glucose (mML) The x-axis shows the concentration of glucose in solution administered into the intestinal lumen; the y-axis is the rate of glucose transported across the small intestine (mmoles per hour)

Explanation / Answer

In the graph, the amount of glucose administered into the intestinal lumen is same for both aerobic and anaerobic mechanism but the absorption of glucose and its transportation across the membrane differs.

The active transport mechanism is when the cell expends energy to move a substance against the concentration gradient across the cell membrane. This energy is obtained from the breakdown of glucose in the presence of oxygen to release ATP(energy), called aerobic respiration. If more of energy is released then more glucose molecules will be enabled to enter the cell and hence transported across the small intestine. This is how more glucose molecules are transported across the small intestine as shown in the graph.

But if the anaerobic conditions are provided that is an absence of oxygen to the cell then the cell will not have enough energy to work against the concentration gradient and to let the glucose molecules move across the cell membrane of small intestine cells. That is why the graph of the aerobic condition is steeper as compared to anaerobic and it supports the uptake of glucose molecule by the active transport mechanism.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse 3
• Subjects

---

---

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.