Fermentation Flashcards
What metabolic pathway is common to both fermentation and cellular respiration?
glycolysis
State the two types of fermentation and the products for each type.
Lactic Acid Fermentation: produces lactic acid and NAD+
Alcohol Fermentation: produces ethyl alcohol, carbon dioxide, and NAD+
What is the primary function that is shared by both types of fermentation?
They keeps glycolysis going
To remove electrons from NADH and have a supply of NAD+ to enter glycolysis again
What is the advantage/benefit of fermentation for organisms?
Allows an organism to continue producing a small amount of ATP in anaerobic conditions
What happens to pyruvate during fermentation in humans?
Pyruvate is converted to lactic acid
What happens to pyruvate during fermentation in yeast?
Pyruvate is converted to ethyl alcohol and carbon dioxide
What happens to the NAD+ produced by fermentation?
Returns to Glycolysis to be used for future reactions
Why is fermentation wasteful for aerobic organisms?
Glycolysis and fermentation only produce 2 ATP, so it is not very efficient compared to the 36-38 ATPs that can be produced through the aerobic pathway.
What happens to your body when you are running sprints?
You are generating and using a lot of ATP energy which uses up your oxygen supply quickly in certain cells, such as muscle cells
How do sprints impact energy production in your body?
ATP is used quickly so more ATP is needed by cellular respiration. As O2 lowers, the rate of cellular respiration slows down. Eventually, if there is not enough oxygen to run cellular respiration, lactic acid fermentation keeps energy production going temporarily.
What are your homeostatic responses to sprints?
Increased breathing and heart rate to take in more oxygen and remove more carbon dioxide
Why can you not sustain a full sprint for hours on end?
During a sprint, our body begins to utilize lactic acid fermentation, which only helps make 2 ATP at a time. As a large, complex, multicellular organism, this is not enough ATP and we must stop to take in enough oxygen to restart aerobic cellular respiration.
Mountain climbers at high altitudes often experience fatigue and a lack of energy. Considering cellular respiration, explain why this is happening to mountain climbers.
At higher altitudes, there is less oxygen in the air, so climbers are taking in less oxygen at these elevations. The reduced amount of oxygen lowers the rate of cellular respiration in their cells, which causes a lower production of ATP energy. With less ATP being produced, the climbers are often fatigued and lack energy.
Fermentation supplies are…
Glycolysis with free NAD+
Which of the following statements is NOT true about fermentation?
It is an anaerobic process.
The products can be toxic to cells.
With glycolysis, it results in two ATPs per glucose molecule.
In the absence of O2, muscle cells form CO2 and alcohol.
It can be used to make bread rise.
In the absence of O2, muscle cells form CO2 and alcohol.
