4.2.1

Respiration

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Energy

Organisms need energy for many reasons:

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Growth

  • To make larger molecules from smaller molecules. For example:
    • Glucose molecules can be joined together to produce starch (in plants).
    • Proteins can be made from amino acids in plants and animals.
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Contraction

  • To contract the muscles of animals, allowing them to move.
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Homeostasis

  • To keep the body temperature of warm-blooded animals (mammals and birds) relatively constant.

Respiration

Respiration is an exothermic reaction (releases energy) that supplies all the energy needed by living organisms. This reaction happens continuously in all living cells. The reaction can be aerobic (with oxygen) or anaerobic (without oxygen).

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Aerobic respiration (with oxygen)

  • In aerobic respiration, glucose reacts with oxygen in the mitochondria of cells to give carbon dioxide, water and energy.
    • Glucose + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water (+ energy)
    • C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O (+ energy)
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Anaerobic respiration in animals

  • Glucose is not broken down completely, making it a less efficient way of transferring energy than aerobic respiration.
  • In animals, glucose is converted to lactic acid:
    • Glucose → lactic acid
  • Anaerobic respiration happens when insufficient (not enough) oxygen reaches the muscles during periods of intense activity.
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Anaerobic respiration in plants

  • In plant and yeast cells, glucose is converted into ethanol and carbon dioxide.
    • Glucose → ethanol + carbon dioxide
  • In yeast cells, this is called fermentation. This is an important step in the manufacture (making) of both bread and alcohol.

Metabolism

Metabolism refers to all the chemical reactions that happen in an organism. Many of these chemical reactions create new molecules with the help of enzymes. Metabolic reactions include:

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Converting glucose

  • Converting glucose into starch (plants), glycogen (animals) and cellulose (plants).
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Making lipids

  • Combining glycerol and fatty acid chains to make lipid molecules.
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Making amino acids

Combining glucose and nitrate ions to make amino acids. Amino acids can then be combined to make proteins.

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Breaking down excess proteins

  • Breaking down excess proteins to form urea, which is excreted (got rid of) in urine.

Jump to other topics

1Cell Biology

2Organisation

2.1Principles of Organisation

2.2Enzymes

2.3Circulatory System

2.4Non-Communicable Diseases

2.5Plant Tissues, Organs & Systems

3Infection & Response

4Bioenergetics

5Homeostasis & Response

6Inheritance, Variation & Evolution

7Ecology

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