Generation of Carbon Dioxide from Various Carbohydrates

Abstract:

In this lab, we observed cellular respiration; we measured the amount of carbon dioxide produced from various carbohydrates when in contact with yeast. We used several different types of carbohydrates such as potato starch, honey, glucose, and cane sugar.  We used five test tubes, one of which was the control. Every test tube including the control contained 35 milliliters of lukewarm water, 1 gram of yeast, l gram of sugar, and 0.2 grams of salt. In each of the four test tubes we added different carbohydrates. The control was left untouched. We placed a rubber cork with a tube attached to a syringe (placed at l milliliter) in order to measure the amount of carbon dioxide produced. After shaking each tube to mix the contents thoroughly, we placed the tubes into a Styrofoam tube holder to control the temperature and labeled them according to their starch.  We then placed the corks on top and checked the syringe every minute for around 20 minutes to measure the amount of carbon dioxide produced.

 

Question:

Will different types of carbohydrates yield different amounts of carbon dioxide during cellular respiration?

 

Background:

The chemical formula for cellular respiration is: C₆H₁₂O₆ + O₂ → CO₂ + H₂O + Energy (ATP). Cellular respiration occurs in the cytoplasm and mitochondria. Cellular respiration is a metabolic process by which food molecules are converted into energy. This process uses carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. But glucose is most commonly used. Cellular respiration consists of three processes: glycolysis, Krebs cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation. Glycolysis occurs in the cytosol, the 6-carbon sugar breaks into 2 molecules of 3-carbon molecules called pyruvate. This process produces 2 ATP and 2 NADH molecules. In the Krebs cycle occurs in the mitochondrial matrix and produces chemical energy (ATP, NADH, and FADH₂) from oxidation of the pyruvates from glycolysis. In oxidative phosphorylation, the electron transport chain produces chemical energy stored in the NADH and FADH_2. There are 3 ATP produced per NADH and 2 ATP per FADH₂.

 

 

 

Hypothesis:

If glucose or cane sugar is placed in a container with water, yeast, salt, and sugar, it should release more carbon dioxide than  the  control . Also, we expect the potato starch to produce some carbon dioxide but not as much as the glucose or cane sugar but more than the control. Additionally, the honey should produce the least amount of carbon dioxide since it contains less glucose than the plain glucose but produce more than the control.

 

Materials:

·         5 test tubes

·         5 rubber corks with tubes

·         5 syringes

·         2 Styrofoam tube holders

·         water

·         yeast

·         sugar

·         salt

·         potato starch

·         glucose

·         cane sugar

·         honey

·         labels

·         graduated cylinder

 

Procedure:

1.      Put 35 milliliters of water, 1 gram of yeast, 1 gram of sugar, and 0.2 grams of salt in each 5 test tubes

2.      Add 0.2 grams of glucose, potato starch, honey, and cane sugar in different test tubes

3.      Label each tube according to the different starch

4.      Do not add any carbohydrate to the fifth test tube so that it can be the control

5.      Have your lab partner help you shake the tubes thoroughly so that nothing sticks to the bottom

6.      Then very quickly place the corks with the tubes and syringes(placed at 1 milliliter) on each of the test tubes

7.      Then place the tubes into the Styrofoam tube holders

8.      Then check the syringes every minute for 20 minutes and record your data, make sure that the corks are tightly placed on each of the tubes, they may loosen

  

        

 

Results:

Milliliters of Carbon Dioxide vs. Number of Minutes

 

the y-axis is in milliliters

the x-axis is in minutes

 

Add on Starches	1 minute	2 minutes	3 minutes
Potato Starch	1 ml	1ml	1ml
Glucose	1ml	1ml	1 ml
Honey	1ml	1ml	1ml
Cane Sugar	1ml	1ml	1ml
Control	1ml	1ml	1ml
	4 minutes	5 minutes	6 minutes
Potato Starch	1 ml	1ml	1ml
Glucose	1ml	1ml	1 ml
Honey	1ml	1ml	1ml
Cane Sugar	1ml	1ml	1ml
Control	1ml	1ml	1ml
	7 minutes	8 minutes	9 minutes
Potato Starch	1 ml	1ml	1ml
Glucose	1ml	1ml	1 ml
Honey	1.01ml	1.01ml	1.05ml
Cane Sugar	1ml	1ml	1ml
Control	1ml	1ml	1ml
	10 minutes	11 minutes	12 minutes
Potato Starch	1 ml	1ml	1ml
Glucose	1.02 ml	1.02 ml	1.02 ml
Honey	1ml	1ml	1ml
Cane Sugar	1.05 ml	1.05 ml	1.05 ml
Control	1ml	1ml	1ml
	13 minutes	14 minutes	15 minutes
Potato Starch	1 ml	1.20ml	1.90 ml
Glucose	1.02 ml	1.40 ml	1.80 ml
Honey	1ml	1ml	1ml
Cane Sugar	1.05 ml	1.30 ml	2 ml
Control	1ml	1ml	1ml
	16 minutes	17 minutes
Potato Starch	1.60 ml	1.60 ml
Glucose	2 ml	2 ml
Honey	1ml	1ml
Cane Sugar	2 ml	2 ml
Control	1ml	1ml

 

Conclusion:

 

In this lab, we found that glucose and cane sugar had generated the most carbon dioxide which fails to reject our hypothesis and produced 1 milliliter more carbon dioxide than the control (35 milliliters of water, 1 gram of yeast, 1 gram of sugar, and 0.2 grams of salt). Our hypothesis of the potato starch producing less than glucose and cane sugar but more than the control is also true. The potato starch produced 0.6 milliliters more carbon dioxide than the control. Our hypothesis about the honey was partially rejected, it produced less carbon dioxide than the glucose and the cane sugar as we expected, but the honey did not produce more carbon dioxide than the control. The honey and the control did not produce any carbon dioxide, and the glucose and cane sugar produced the most carbon dioxide.              Even though the control and honey also contained sugar it did not produce carbon dioxide. The two constants in this lab are temperature (from placing the tubes in the Styrofoam tube holders) , and the 35 milliliters of water, 1 gram of yeast, 1 gram of sugar, and 0.2 grams of salt in each test tube. Another constant is also the duration of time for cellular respiration to occur and be measured. Two potential sources of error are not adding equal amounts of the different carbohydrates to each of the different test tubes, and not placing the corks properly on each of the test tubes. If the tubes are not placed properly then carbon dioxide can escape and not be measured in the syringe.  Our data is not completely accurate, we did not properly read the syringes throughout the lab so that may have been the cause , also there could have been a leak in a couple of the tubes which might explain why the potato starch 's level of carbon dioxide decreased near the end of the lab and why the honey and control did not produce carbon dioxide.This lab proves that glucose is a major source of energy and produces more energy faster than other carbohydrates.

 

Citations:

Pearson. "Cell Respiration: Overview of Respiration." Cell Respiration: Overview of Respiration. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Feb. 2014.

The Reaction of Collagen to Fruits’ Enzymes

Abstract:

In this lab, we observed the how collagen reacts to fruits’ enzymes, specifically bromelain. In order to see this reaction we places 39.4 grams of boiled water and 39.4 grams of cold water and added 6.6 grams of Jell-O gelatin we stirred it for 5 minutes then placed equal amounts of the gelatin into four petri dishes. Than we placed 7.9 grams of fresh cut pineapple into one of the dishes, 7.9 grams of fresh cut kiwi into one of the dishes, and 7.9 grams of fresh cut mango. We did not place fruit into one of the dishes so that it can be the control. Then we covered the dishes and put them into the refrigerator for three days. After three days, we checked the dishes, those containing pineapple and kiwi did not set and were still liquid. The mango and the control were the only two petri dishes to set properly.

 

Question:

Do the enzymes in the different fresh fruits have the same reaction to collagen?

 

Background:

Pineapple as well as many other fruits contains the chemical bromelain which contains two proteases that are enzymes capable of digesting proteins. Jell-O and other gelatins get their structure from protein called collagen. So when pineapple or similar fruits are added the enzyme, bromelain, breaks down the proteins and does not allow the gelatin to set. This does not apply when we use canned pineapple because when heat above 158°F the enzyme becomes inactive. When an enzyme is heated past a certain degree the shape of the substrate changes and it prevents it from digesting proteins because the proteins no longer fit in the substrate. The same applies to pH levels.

 

Hypothesis:

If fruits containing bromelain are placed into gelatin then they will not set unlike the control where we did not add any fruits. And fruits not containing bromelain will set properly like the control.

 

Materials:

·         Hot water

·         Cold water

·         Jell-O gelatin

·         4 petri dishes

·         Labels

·         Pineapple

·         Stirring rod

·         Kiwi

·         Mango

·         Graduated cylinder

·         Refrigerator

 

Procedure:

1.      Boil water

2.      Measure 39.4 grams of the water then add 6.6 grams of gelatin

3.      Stir for 5 minutes until the gelatin is dissolved

4.      Add 39.4 grams of cold water

5.      Place 19.7 grams of the solution into each of the 4 petri dishes

6.      Add 7.9 grams of fresh cut pineapple to a petri dish and label the cover

7.      Add 7.9 grams of fresh cut kiwi to a petri dish and label the cover

8.      Add 7.9 grams of fresh cut mango to a petri dish and label the cover

9.      Do not add fruit to the fourth petri dish, so that it can be the control

10.  Place the labeled covers on each dish and put them into the refrigerator

11.  Check your results in 3 days and record the data

Results:

 

                         

The upper dish is the mango dish                                                  The dish above is the pineapple dish

The lower dish is the kiwi dish

 

The above picture is the control dish

Conclusions:

My hypothesis that fruits containing bromelain would not set in gelatin is correct. Also, my other hypothesis that fruits not containing bromelain would set same as the control which was just plain gelatin. The only two petri dishes that set properly were the ones containing mango and nothing at all. This shows that mangos do not contain bromealin. The petri dishes containing pineapple and kiwi did not set which shows that they do contain bromelain. The two constants of this lab were equal amounts of gelatin and water in each dish and refrigerating them for the same amount of time at the same temperature. Two possible errors are jot placing cold water into the gelatin; this would not allow the gelatin to set, and checking on the results too early and not allowing them enough time to set.

Citations:

Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Pineapple and Jell-O." About.com Chemistry. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Feb.   2014.

 

Survival of the Sickest: A Spoonful of Sugar Helps the Temperature go Down

This chapter of Survival of the Sickest discusses diabetes. Diabetes mellitus, happens when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin to regulate glucose levels in the blood. There are three types of diabetes. Type-1 or juvenile diabetes occurs in children and is normally treated with insulin injection or pump. Type-2 happens in adults and usually is treated by regulating food intake and exercise. The third type is gestational diabetes which occurs in pregnant women and is temporary for the period of pregnancy.  Type-2 diabetes are linked to bad eating habits and lack of exercise. Type- 1 diabetes is more attributed to hereditary causes which is linked to evolution of people of who originate from Northern Europe, who live in cold weather. In cold weather, higher glucose concentration in blood makes the body more resistant to the cold by dropping the freezing temperature. This was an adaptation that helped humans survive extreme cold weather.

Red circle=Type- 1

Blue circle =Type-2

Forensics Quiz

The leading differential diagnosis is that the vascular trauma was the reason of death that resulted from the bullet injuring the heart and/or the man arteries to the heart. Another possible cause of death is that the bullet could have punctured the lungs, not allowing the man to breathe. This could be ruled out through an autopsy and examination of lungs. The liver could have also been injured by a puncture from the fracture 8th rib which would lead to bleeding and death. This could be ruled out by an autopsy and examination of the liver. The last possible cause of death could be that when the bullet exited the body that it hit the stomach and killed the man. This also can be ruled out by autopsy, and examination of the stomach. By examining the body, having an X-ray of the body to see the path of the bullet and its fragments. Also the amount of blood the man loss will help rule out the diagnoses, but the final diagnosis will be determined by a full body autopsy.


Bullet would enter above the third rib and hit the lungs and heart an exit 5 cm above the belly button and damage the stomach

Anthony Atala: Growing New Organs

       In Anthony Atala's TedTalk, he talked about how the human body can regenerate itself but only for short distance of 1 centimeter. Also, he talked about regenerative medicine and how they create organs, to replace injured or diseased ones. This is to help the shortage in organ donations, since a patient dies every 30 seconds, but could have been saved by tissue regeneration. There are many ways to create organs. One way is to use a standard printer and instead of ink use cells, this is called 3D printing. You can also take an organ and was all the cells off of it with bio-soaps or detergents and infuse it with the patients cells and replant it into the patient.  It is easier to create organs that consist of one type of cell , but it is more difficult to create organs made of two cells or more like a blood vessel or urethra. But there is still a need for stem cells for complex organs like the heart, liver, kidneys, and pancreas. For physicians, the regenerated organ is good enough to be planted if they can use it for their own families and loved ones.

Your Inner Healers

iPSC’s or induction of pluripotent stem cells are embryonic-like cells which can take the form of any of the 220 forms of human cells. It has the potential to cure cell-related diseases such as Diabetes and Parkinson’s disease. Scientists found that by injecting 4 reprogramming hormones found in pluripotent embryonic cells, into mice skin cells through retroviruses. By doing so, skin cells change to iPSC cells which can be used to form any other kind of cells. Some problems associated with iPSC’s are that the retroviruses used to introduce the hormones to the cell, linger and cause cancers in the adult mice, but the problem can be fixed by replacing the retroviruses with the adenovirus.  Also, there are ethical concerns because iPSC’s can be used to create human embryos.  iPSC’s have a huge potential to cure diseases and fight aging, but there still is a lot more research needed before it can be tried on humans. Some ethical concerns are that if iPSC's do cure diseases like Diabetes and Parkinson's Disease, that it will only be available to the rich who can afford it and not to those who need it.

Practice Cancer Quiz

• During which phases of mitosis are chromosomes composed of two chromatids?

                   
                      From the G2 of interphase through metaphase

• Which of the following is true concerning cancer cells?

                       They do not exhibit density-dependent inhibition when growing in culture.

                       When they stop dividing , they do so at random points in the cell cycle.

                       They are not subject to cell controls.

• Which of these is  a carcinogen?

                        Testosterone

                        Cigarette smoke

                         UV light

                        Fat

• One difference between a cancer cell and a normal cell is that

                        Cancer cells continue to divide even when they are tightly packed together

• Which of the following is p53?

                        Tumor suppressor gene