Cellular Respiration Basics
What is the main purpose of cellular respiration in living organisms?
To convert food energy into usable energy in the form of ATP.
What term describes low oxygen availability at the cellular level?
Hypoxia
What type of energy is stored in glucose molecules synthesized during photosynthesis?
Chemical Potential Energy
Define metabolism in the context of cellular biochemistry.
The sum of all chemical reactions occurring within an organism to maintain life.
Which macronutrient yields the highest energy per gram, and why?
Lipids, because their hydrocarbon chains contain more stored chemical energy than carbohydrates or proteins.
Where in the cell does glycolysis occur?
In the cytoplasm
Why can a person have oxygen in their blood but still experience organ failure?
Because their cells cannot use the oxygen if energy production is blocked.
Which pigment in chloroplasts captures light energy for photosynthesis?
Chlorophyll
Differentiate between anabolic and catabolic reactions.
Anabolic reactions build complex molecules using energy, while catabolic reactions break molecules down, releasing energy.
What physiological outcome results from a negative energy balance?
The body metabolizes stored fat and muscle tissue, leading to weight loss.
What gas acts as the final electron acceptor in the electron transport chain?
Oxygen
What happens to muscles when ATP production is impaired?
Muscles cramp or become weak due to a build-up of lactic acid
What gas is absorbed during photosynthesis, and what gas is released?
Carbon dioxide is absorbed; oxygen is released.
Describe the role of coenzymes in metabolic reactions
Coenzymes assist enzymes by transferring electrons or functional groups during reactions.
Explain NEAT and its role in total daily energy expenditure.
Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis encompasses all energy expended for activities other than sleeping, eating, or formal exercise.
What is produced as a waste gas during the Krebs Cycle?
Carbon dioxide
What happens to the heart if ATP levels drop significantly?
The heart cannot beat effectively and may fail
Why are algae considered efficient sources for biofuel production?
Because they yield high oil content per acre, grow rapidly, and require minimal agricultural resources.
What does the “lock-and-key” model explain about enzyme specificity?
It demonstrates that enzymes have active sites precisely shaped to fit their substrate molecules.
How does chronic malnutrition impact global mortality rates?
It contributes to more deaths annually than HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria combined.
How many ATP molecules are produced from one molecule of glucose during cellular respiration?
Approximately 32-34 ATP
Identify the naturally occurring pesticide compound that interferes with the electron transport chain.
Ronetone
Explain how photosynthesis and cellular respiration are interdependent processes.
Photosynthesis produces glucose and oxygen used by respiration, while respiration releases carbon dioxide and water required for photosynthesis.
Why is metabolism described as the integration of multiple pathways rather than a single process?
Because anabolic and catabolic pathways interconnect through shared intermediates and energy carriers
Define RUTF and its global health application.
Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food; a high-calorie, nutrient-dense paste used to treat severe acute malnutrition.