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Student Guide: Cell Respiration - AP STEM Case and Handbook
Introduction: Jared, a CIA agent, has been poisoned by a criminal gang and has been
rescued by Navy SEALs. As a Medical Toxicologist, you will learn the concepts of
cellular respiration and perform an investigation to identify which poison has been
used. You will then apply an antidote to save the agent.
Vocabulary: As new vocabulary is introduced, the words are presented in the Gizmo as orange text -
clicking the orange text opens the glossary page for that term. You can use the glossary at any point.
1. Launch the Gizmo and follow the instructions provided to
collect data on Jared. The questions below are sequential.
2. List Jared's three symptoms.
Muscle weakness, shortness of breath, dizziness
After reviewing the background information, you will be
asked to “open the Handbook to learn how ATP is made.” Move through all of the sections in the handbook
by clicking on the indicated sections on each page. As you work through the handbook, fill in the
information below.
3. Define "cellular respiration"
Cell respiration uses sugar and oxygen and makes carbon dioxide, water, ATP.
4. Name the organelle in which cellular respiration occurs. Describe the structure of this organelle. In your
response include the terms inner membrane, outer membrane, intermembrane space, and matrix.
Cellular respiration occurs in the mitochondria. It has two membranes, an inner membrane and an outer
membrane. The space between the membranes is called the intermembrane space. The inside of a
mitochondrion is called the matrix.
5. Mitochondria need two "inputs" for respiration to work. What are these, and what is the source from
which your body obtains each?
Input Source
Sugar Food
, Oxygen Air
6. Write the overall reaction of cellular respiration. Follow the Gizmo to help you balance it.
Tip: To insert a subscript, go to “Format” > “Text” > “Subscript”
C6H12O6 + O2 → CO2 + H2O + ATP
7. Although sugar and oxygen are considered “reactants” in the cell respiration equation, do they react
directly with one another? Explain.
The sugar and oxygen do not react with each other. They are used in different parts of cell respiration.
8. Notice that ATP is NOT part of the reactants side...where do you think it "comes from"?
The ATP comes from the glucose in food.
READ THIS: Cellular respiration is divided into a series of steps to allow for a more controlled and
efficient release of energy. Each of these steps has critical inputs and outputs that flow into the next step
allowing it to occur.
STEP 1: GLYCOLYSIS
9. Define glycolysis. What enters this series of reactions? What is the final output?
In glycolysis, enzymes metabolize glucose into 2 molecules of pyruvate. This produces a net total of 2
ATP and 2 NADH.
10. Carefully analyze the diagram showing the image with the 10 different enzymes of glycolysis. Where in
the cell does glycolysis occur?
Glycolysis occurs in the cytoplasm.
11. Using your knowledge of prokaryotic organisms, make a claim regarding whether prokaryotes will be
able to conduct the process of glycolysis. Provide reasoning to support your claim.
Glycolysis can occur in prokaryotes because glycolysis occurs in the cytoplasm and prokaryotes have
cytoplasm.
12. Glycolysis is divided into two phases known as the energy investment phase and the energy payoff
phase. Summarize each of these phases, including the inputs and outputs.
Student Guide: Cell Respiration - AP STEM Case and Handbook
Introduction: Jared, a CIA agent, has been poisoned by a criminal gang and has been
rescued by Navy SEALs. As a Medical Toxicologist, you will learn the concepts of
cellular respiration and perform an investigation to identify which poison has been
used. You will then apply an antidote to save the agent.
Vocabulary: As new vocabulary is introduced, the words are presented in the Gizmo as orange text -
clicking the orange text opens the glossary page for that term. You can use the glossary at any point.
1. Launch the Gizmo and follow the instructions provided to
collect data on Jared. The questions below are sequential.
2. List Jared's three symptoms.
Muscle weakness, shortness of breath, dizziness
After reviewing the background information, you will be
asked to “open the Handbook to learn how ATP is made.” Move through all of the sections in the handbook
by clicking on the indicated sections on each page. As you work through the handbook, fill in the
information below.
3. Define "cellular respiration"
Cell respiration uses sugar and oxygen and makes carbon dioxide, water, ATP.
4. Name the organelle in which cellular respiration occurs. Describe the structure of this organelle. In your
response include the terms inner membrane, outer membrane, intermembrane space, and matrix.
Cellular respiration occurs in the mitochondria. It has two membranes, an inner membrane and an outer
membrane. The space between the membranes is called the intermembrane space. The inside of a
mitochondrion is called the matrix.
5. Mitochondria need two "inputs" for respiration to work. What are these, and what is the source from
which your body obtains each?
Input Source
Sugar Food
, Oxygen Air
6. Write the overall reaction of cellular respiration. Follow the Gizmo to help you balance it.
Tip: To insert a subscript, go to “Format” > “Text” > “Subscript”
C6H12O6 + O2 → CO2 + H2O + ATP
7. Although sugar and oxygen are considered “reactants” in the cell respiration equation, do they react
directly with one another? Explain.
The sugar and oxygen do not react with each other. They are used in different parts of cell respiration.
8. Notice that ATP is NOT part of the reactants side...where do you think it "comes from"?
The ATP comes from the glucose in food.
READ THIS: Cellular respiration is divided into a series of steps to allow for a more controlled and
efficient release of energy. Each of these steps has critical inputs and outputs that flow into the next step
allowing it to occur.
STEP 1: GLYCOLYSIS
9. Define glycolysis. What enters this series of reactions? What is the final output?
In glycolysis, enzymes metabolize glucose into 2 molecules of pyruvate. This produces a net total of 2
ATP and 2 NADH.
10. Carefully analyze the diagram showing the image with the 10 different enzymes of glycolysis. Where in
the cell does glycolysis occur?
Glycolysis occurs in the cytoplasm.
11. Using your knowledge of prokaryotic organisms, make a claim regarding whether prokaryotes will be
able to conduct the process of glycolysis. Provide reasoning to support your claim.
Glycolysis can occur in prokaryotes because glycolysis occurs in the cytoplasm and prokaryotes have
cytoplasm.
12. Glycolysis is divided into two phases known as the energy investment phase and the energy payoff
phase. Summarize each of these phases, including the inputs and outputs.
