Lab 1

Question 1

What refinements are required for respiratory organs in order for respiration to be successful?

Answer 1

1. A transport (circulatory) system to carry the gases to and from the cells
2. A blood pigment which can increase the gas capacity of the transporting fluid. In many
   animals, the pigment used for this task is haemoglobin (Hb).

Question 2

What causes the sigmoid shape of the oxygen dissociation curve?

Answer 2

co-operative binding.

Question 3

How can the amount of oxygen present in blood be determined using spectrophotometry?

Answer 3

When light is directed through a
coloured solution, certain wavelengths are absorbed and others are transmitted. If the colour of the solution changes, the amount of light absorbed or transmitted through the solution will
also change.

Question 4

What is haemolysate?

Answer 4

Haemolysate is a preparation in which red blood cells are first separated from the blood
plasma and then the red blood cells are lysed to release the haemoglobin molecules.