The purpose of the following experiment is to measure oxygen consumption and dye reduction in germinating barley and corn seeds at three different temperatures (Anderson, John N, pg. 6). Oxygen consumption can be measured through a process known as cell respiration. Cell respiration can be explained as an energy yielding pathway that occurs by using organic compounds. These compounds are broken down slowly so that the energy is not used up all at once for heat. The fuel used mostly for energy is glucose or what most know as sugar. Glucose is an exergonic substance, which means the chemical process it goes through actually stores less energy then the reactants. The actual chemical process that glucose goes through is known as glycolysis. Glycolysis occurs in the cytoplasm where the molecule of glucose (6 carbon sugar) splits into two 3 carbon sugars. These thre
e carbon sugars go through oxidization and form two pyruvate molecules that enter the mitochondria where it is then converted into acetyl-CoA. This enzyme breaks down the molecules into CO2 and water in the electron transport system. Throughout this cycle electrons are transferred to the carrier molecule known as NAD+ which is then reduced to NADH+H. This transfer causes electrons to loose energy which is eventually turned into ATP. When the electrons and protons are finally combined with molecular oxygen and water the chain is completed (Anderson, John N, pg. 2). The above information gives understanding to the actual chemical process that need to take place in order to cause respiration, but how can it be measured? The rate of respiration can be measured using four different methods, heat production, liberation of CO2, oxygen consumption, and dye reduction. During heat producti
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