Overview of Respiration

Respiration

Respiration is a series of reactions that convert chemical energy stored in carbohydrates into ATP. It takes place in the mitochondria of eukaryotic cells.

Importance of respiration

Respiration is the process that converts energy within the bonds of glucose into a more readily available form: ATP. The equation for respiration is:
- 6O₂ + C₆H₁₂O₆ (glucose) → 6CO₂ + 6H₂O

Types of respiration

There are two types of respiration:
- Aerobic - respiration using oxygen.
- Anaerobic - respiration without oxygen.
Both types of respiration start with the same stage: glycolysis (pictured).

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Anaerobic respiration

Anaerobic respiration does NOT use oxygen (e.g. short burst of intense exercise).
There are two types of anaerobic respiration:
- Ethanol fermentation - takes place in plants and yeast.
- Lactate fermentation - takes place in animals.

Aerobic respiration

Aerobic respiration uses oxygen (e.g. extended periods of exercise).
The reaction and products are the same in plants, animal and yeast.
Aerobic respiration also differs from anaerobic respiration in the following ways:
- Water is produced.
- More ATP is produced.
- Glucose is fully broken down.
- After glycolysis, there are more steps (the link reaction, the Krebs cycle and oxidative phosphorylation).

Glycolysis

Respiration produces ATP and can be either aerobic or anaerobic. Glycolysis is the first stage in both these processes. Glycolysis happens in the cytoplasm and is an anaerobic process.

Phosphorylation

The first step in glycolysis involves the phosphorylation of glucose to glucose phosphate using one molecule of ATP.
Glucose phosphate is phosphorylated by another molecule of ATP to hexose bisphosphate (a six-carbon molecule)
Hexose bisphosphate splits into two molecules of triose phosphate (TP).

Oxidation

The two molecules of TP are oxidised to pyruvate (another three-carbon molecule) in a multi-step reaction.
A single TP molecule produces two molecules of ATP and one molecule of reduced NAD (NADH) in this process.

Net gain

2 ATP molecules.
2 NADH molecules.

1Cell Biology

2Molecular Biology

2.1Water

2.1.1Water & Hydrogen Bonding

2.1.2IB Multiple Choice - Water & Hydrogen Bonding

2.1.3Extended Response - Water

2.2Carbohydrates & Lipids

2.2.1Monosaccharides

2.2.2Disaccharides & Polysaccharides

2.2.3Triglycerides & Phospholipids

2.2.4Cellulose

2.2.5Starch & Glycogen

2.3Proteins

2.3.1Structure & Functions of Proteins

2.4Enzymes

2.4.1Enzymes

2.4.2Factors Affecting Enzyme Activity

2.4.3Enzyme-Controlled Reactions

2.4.4End of Topic Test - Enzymes

2.5Structure of DNA & RNA

2.5.1DNA & RNA

2.6DNA Replication, Transcription & Translation

2.6.1Protein Synthesis

2.6.2Transcription & Translation

2.6.3End of Topic Test - DNA, Genes & Protein Synthesis

2.6.4Exam-Style Question - Protein Synthesis

2.6.5End of Topic Test - Coronavirus Translation

2.6.6IB Multiple Choice - Transcription

2.6.7IB Multiple Choice - Translation

2.7Cell Respiration

2.7.1Overview of Respiration

2.7.2Anaerobic Respiration

2.7.3End of Topic Test - Anaerobic Respiration

2.7.4Respiration Experiments

2.7.5End of Topic Test - Respiration

2.7.6IB Multiple Choice - Respiration

2.8Photosynthesis

2.8.1Overview of Photosynthesis

3Genetics

4Ecology

4.1Species, Communities & Ecosytems

4.1.1Population Dynamics

4.1.2Communities & Measuring Diversity

4.1.3Relationships Between Populations

4.1.4Overview of Ecosystems

4.1.5Nutrient Cycles

4.1.6Fertilisers

4.1.7Eutrophication

4.1.8Chi-Squared Test

4.2Energy Flow

4.2.1Energy

4.2.2Energy Flow

4.2.3Biomass & Food Chains

4.2.4Heterotrophs & Autotrophs

4.3Carbon Cycle

4.3.1Carbon Cycle

4.4Climate Change

4.4.1Carbon Dioxide

4.4.2The Greenhouse Effect

4.4.3Global Warming

4.4.4Maintaining Biodiversity

5Evolution & Biodiversity

5.1Evidence for Evolution

5.1.1Evidence for Evolution - Fossils & DNA

5.1.2Evidence for Evolution - Anatomy & Geography

5.1.3IB Multiple Choice - Evidence for Evolution

5.1.4Extended Response - DNA & Evolution

5.2Natural Selection

5.2.1Introduction

5.2.2Evolutionary Fitness

5.2.3Natural Selection & Variation

5.2.4End of Topic Quiz - Natural Selection

5.2.5IB Multiple Choice - Natural Selection

5.2.6Speciation

5.3Classification of Biodiversity

5.3.1Introduction to Biodiversity

5.3.2Keystone Species

5.3.3Courtship & Ancestry

5.3.4Classification

5.4Cladistics

5.4.1Evolutionary Relationships

5.4.2IB Multiple Choice - Species & Taxonomy

6Human Physiology

6.1Digestion & Absorption

6.1.1Overview of Digestion

6.1.2Digestion in Mammals

6.1.3Absorption

6.1.4End of Topic Test - Substance Exchange & Digestion

6.1.5End of Topic Test - Substance Ex & Digestion

6.2The Blood System

6.2.1The Circulatory System

6.2.2The Heart

6.2.3Blood Vessels

6.2.4Cardiovascular Disease

6.3Defence Against Infectious Disease

6.3.1Immune System

6.3.2The Immune Response

6.3.3Antibodies

6.3.4Primary & Secondary Response

6.3.5Vaccines

6.3.6HIV

6.3.7End of Topic Test - Immune System

6.3.8Exam-Style Question - Immune System

6.3.9End of Topic Test - Immune System

6.4Gas Exchange

6.4.1Lung Structure & Alveoli

6.4.2Ventilation

6.4.3Lung Disease

6.4.4Lung Disease Data

6.5Neurons & Synapses

6.5.1Neuron Structure

6.5.2Transmission of an Impulse

6.5.3Speed of Transmission

6.5.4End of Topic Test - Neurones & Action Potentials

6.5.5Synapses

6.5.6Types of Synapse

6.5.7Medical Application

6.5.8End of Topic Test - Synapses

6.5.9End of Topic Test - Nervous Comm&Coord

6.6Hormones, HomeoStasis & Reproduction

6.6.1Overview of Homeostasis

6.6.2Blood Glucose Concentration

6.6.3Controlling Blood Glucose Concentration

6.6.4End of Topic Test - Blood Glucose

6.6.5Type I & Type II Diabetes

6.6.6Human Reproductive Systems

6.6.7Hormonal Control of the Menstrual Cycle

7AHL: Nucleic Acids

7.1DNA Structure & Replication

7.1.1DNA

7.1.2RNA

7.1.3DNA Replication

7.1.4DNA Replication - Summary

7.1.5IB Multiple Choice - DNA Replication

7.2Transcription & Gene Expression

7.2.1Introduction to Transcription & Protein Synthesis

7.2.2Types of RNA

7.2.3Transcription

7.2.4RNA Processing in Eukaryotes

7.2.5IB Multiple Choice - Transcription

7.3Translation

7.3.1Translation

7.3.2Retroviruses

7.3.3Scientific Practices: Coronavirus

7.3.4IB Multiple Choice - Translation

8AHL: Metabolism, Cell Respiration & Photosynthesis

8.1Metabolism

8.1.1Molecules to Metabolism

8.2Cell Respiration

8.2.1Glycolysis

8.2.2Aerobic Respiration

8.3Photosynthesis

8.3.1Light-Dependent Reaction

8.3.2Light-Independent Reaction

8.3.3End of Topic Test - Photosynthesis Reactions

8.3.4Limiting Factors

8.3.5Photosynthesis Experiments

8.3.6End of Topic Test - Photosynthesis

8.3.7End of Topic Test - Photosynthesis

9AHL: Plant Biology

9.1Transport in the Xylem of Plants

9.1.1Structure

9.1.2Cohesion-Tension Theory

9.1.3Investigating Transpiration Rate

9.2Transport in the Phloem of Plants

9.2.1Structure

9.2.2Translocation

9.3Growth in Plants

9.3.1Plant Tropisms

10AHL: Genetics & Evolution

10.1Meiosis

10.1.1Stages of Meiosis

10.2Inheritance

10.2.1Linked Genes

10.2.2Sex-Linked Genes

10.2.3Non-Nuclear Inheritance

10.2.4Chi-Squared Test

10.2.5End of Topic Quiz - Inheritance

10.2.6IB Multiple Choice - Non-Mendelian Genetics

10.2.7Introduction to Non-Mendelian Inheritance

10.2.8Extended Response - Inheritance

10.2.9Grade 4-5 (Scientific Practices) - Inheritance

10.3Gene Pools & Speciation

10.3.1Populations

10.3.2Mutations, Genetic Drift, & Gene Flow

10.3.3Speciation

10.3.4Rate of Speciation

10.3.5Allopatric & Sympatric Speciation

11AHL: Animal Physiology

11.1Antibody Production & Vaccination

11.1.1Immune System

11.1.2The Immune Response

11.1.3Antibodies

11.1.4Primary & Secondary Response

11.1.5Vaccines

11.2Movement

11.2.1Skeletal Muscle

11.2.2Sliding Filament Theory

11.2.3Contraction

11.3The Kidney & Osmoregulation

11.3.1Kidneys & Osmoregulation

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