RESPIRATION - The release of energy from organic compounds.

  • The energy goes into an energy carrying compound called ATP or Adenosine Triphosphate.

* Respiration can happen with the aid of oxygen in some cells and without oxygen in others: Aerobic Respiration – release of energy WITH the use of oxygen

Anaerobic Respiration – release of energy WITHOUT the use of oxygen.

  • Cellular Respiration – occurs in the mitochondria:

Water + ATP  ADP + P + ENERGY

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Aerobic Respiration – uses oxygen – is more efficient than anaerobic respiration – occurs in mitochondria

GLUCOSE + OXYGEN  WATER + CARBON DIOXIDE + 36 ATP

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Anaerobic Respiration - does NOT use oxygen - occurs in the cytoplasm – is less efficient than aerobic respiration – also called FERMENTATION reactions.

Alcohol Fermentation- done by yeast cells:

GLUCOSE  ETHYL ALCOHOL + CARBON DIOXIDE + 2 ATP

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Lactic Acid Fermentation – done by bacteria, skeletal muscle cells

GLUCOSE  LACTIC ACID + 2 ATP

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  • Anaerobic respiration is used to produce cheese, yogurt, buttermilk and sauerkraut

Sauerkraut

Leuconostoc mesenteroides bacteria is what makes the process of fermentation achievable. The Leuconostoc mesenteroides l are what gives the sauerkraut its sour taste because of the bacteria's lactic acids that are released during the fermentation.

Yogurt

Fermented foods have been consumed by humans since ancient times in the form of yogurt and kefir, and non-dairy foods such as miso, tempeh, and sauerkraut. The Russian physiologist and Nobel-prize winner Elie Metchnikoff (1845-1916), was the first to suggest that consuming bacteria could have a favorable effect on health. Metchnikoff had observed the longevity and robust health of the yogurt-eating Balkan peoples of Eastern Europe.

It is only recently, however, that researchers have begun to demonstrate specific uses of probiotic foods. After birth, Roberts explains, our sterile guts start acquiring bacteria from milk and other food sources. By the time a child is two years old, he or she possesses a full complement of microbes. "There are more bacteria in your gut than the total number of cells in your body," Roberts says laughingly.

****Oxygen must be able to get to the mitochondria from the outside environment! To do this it must cross over the respiratory surface of the cell or organism*****

Conditions needed for Respiratory Surfaces :

  1. The respiratory surface must be THIN
  2. The respiratory surface must be MOIST
  3. There must be more oxygen available on one side the surface than the other.

* Did you know? The earthworm’s respiratory surface is it’s SKIN! This is why it secretes mucus when you pick one up. Yes; the same mucus that YOUR respiratory system produces!