1. According to the laws of thermodynamics, when the leaves in a compost pile de
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Question
1. According to the laws of thermodynamics, when the leaves in a compost pile decay: A) what happens to the mass of that pile of leaves? B) What happens to the energy contained in those leaves? (hint: consider that leaves are mostly cellulose, which is a polymer of D-glucose, and composting is done by microorganism)
2. A) Explain how can cells perform endergonic reactions (those that need energy in order to proceed). B) Explain the function of ATP in the cells.
3. Some animals cannot regulate their body temperature, such as some fish species, but spend times in cold and warm waters. Do you think the change in temperature will affect the animals physiology? Base your explanation on what youve learned about enzymatic activity.
4. Cyanide poisoning causes a type of hypoxia by inhibiting cytochrome c oxidase, which is the very last protein in the electron transport chain. A) Explain how/why cyanide inhibition of cytochrome c oxidase interferes with cellular respiration. B) Does the cell have any alternative to keep glycolysis going? C) Explain the purpose of oxygen in respiration.
5. Explain what would happen to ATP production in a mitochondrion that has leaky membranes, which would allow protons to diffuse through. Explain and compare to ATP production in a normal cell.
6. Fatty acids are known to be more efficient than carbohydrates at storing energy. A) Compare the net number of ATPs produced from a glucose molecule and a 6-carbon fatty acid. B) Explain the main steps in the energy harvesting process for both molecules and how they relate to the differences in ATP produced. C) Apply what you know about fatty acid metabolism to explain why aerobic exercise is recommended over anaerobic exercise for weight loss.
Explanation / Answer
The leaves get degraded releasing heat into the atmosphere. The entropy is also increased. Lots of gases are also released.
B) What happens to the energy contained in those leaves? (hint: consider that leaves are mostly cellulose, which is a polymer of D-glucose, and composting is done by microorganism).
Most of the energy in the leaf will be converted into heat and some energy of the leaves are used up by the microorganisms which consume them for their living.
2. A) Explain how can cells perform endergonic reactions (those that need energy in order to proceed).
Endergonic reaction uses ATP as a source of energy. Dark reaction of photosynthesis can be taken as an example where energy from ATP is used to make sugars.
B) Explain the function of ATP in the cells.
ATP serves as the source of energy for mechanical work, chemical work and transportation work in the cells
3. Some animals cannot regulate their body temperature, such as some fish species, but spend times in cold and warm waters. Do you think the change in temperature will affect the animals physiology? Base your explanation on what youve learned about enzymatic activity.
Extreme temperature can interfere with the proper functioning of enzymes. Every enzyme has an optimal temperature at which it functions best, below that and above it, the enzyme will not function.
4. Cyanide poisoning causes a type of hypoxia by inhibiting cytochrome c oxidase, which is the very last protein in the electron transport chain.
Explain how/why cyanide inhibition of cytochrome c oxidase interferes with cellular respiration.
Cyanide binds with the cytochrome c oxidase, a complex involved in electron transport chain. The cyanide just blocks the flow of electrons to oxygen and stops ATP production. This is how it interferes with respiration.
Does the cell have any alternative to keep glycolysis going?
The cell converts the pyruvic acid to lactic acid, which can be exported out of the cell into the liver, where it can be made into glucose and can be shipped back to muscle for glycolysis to take place.
Explain the purpose of oxygen in respiration.
Oxygen functions as final electron acceptor during an electron transport chain.
5. Explain what would happen to ATP production in a mitochondrion that has leaky membranes, which would allow protons to diffuse through. Explain and compare to ATP production in a normal cell.
The electrochemical gradient due to the presence of hydrogen ions is destroyed due to the leaking of the membrane, hence the ATP synthase is not in a position to synthesize ATP. In a normal cell the hydrogen ions create an electrochemical gradient and it enables the ATP synthase to synthesize ATP easily.
6. Fatty acids are known to be more efficient than carbohydrates at storing energy.
Compare the net number of ATPs produced from a glucose molecule and a 6-carbon fatty acid.
Net ATP produced during glycolysis is 2 ATP from a glucose molecule. A 6 carbon fatty acid produces about 78 ATP molecules.
Explain the main steps in the energy harvesting process for both molecules and how they relate to the differences in ATP produced.
For Glucose energy harvesting is done mainly by glycolysis and krebs cycle. For fatty acid beta oxidation gives the energy.
Apply what you know about fatty acid metabolism to explain why aerobic exercise is recommended over anaerobic exercise for weight loss.
Aerobic exercise increases the fat metabolism and thereby leads to weight loss.
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