ENERGY AND RESPIRATION
Syllabus Points
12.1 - Energy
1 - outline the need for energy in living organisms, as illustrated by active transport, movement
and anabolic reactions, such as those occurring in DNA replication and protein synthesis.
2 - describe the features of ATP that make it suitable as the universal energy currency
3 - state that ATP is synthesised by:
transfer of phosphate in substrate-linked reactions
chemiosmosis in membranes of mitochondria and chloroplasts
4 - explain the relative energy values of carbohydrates, lipids and proteins as respiratory
substrates
5 - State that the respiratory quotient (RQ) is the ratio of the number of molecules of carbon
dioxide produced to the number of molecules of oxygen taken in, as a result of respiration
6 - calculate RQ values of different respiratory substrates from equations for respiration
7 - describe and carry out investigations, using simple respirometers, to determine the RQ of
germinating seeds or small invertebrates
Review Notes
Why do living organisms need energy
o anabolic reactions: protein synthesis, synthesis of glycogen (glycogenesis), DNA
replication, polymerisation
o active transport: Na+-K+ pump, movement of vesicles in exocytosis/endocytosis
o movement: muscle contraction, cilia/flagella movement, movement of
chromosomes
o maintenance of a constant body temperature
o bioluminescence/electrical discharge
What are the components of ATP
it has three components:
o Adenine (organic, nitrogenous base)
o Ribose sugar (pentose sugar)
o three phosphate groups
What are the characteristics of ATP
o Small
o Watersoluble → Easily transported around the cell
Syllabus Points
12.1 - Energy
1 - outline the need for energy in living organisms, as illustrated by active transport, movement
and anabolic reactions, such as those occurring in DNA replication and protein synthesis.
2 - describe the features of ATP that make it suitable as the universal energy currency
3 - state that ATP is synthesised by:
transfer of phosphate in substrate-linked reactions
chemiosmosis in membranes of mitochondria and chloroplasts
4 - explain the relative energy values of carbohydrates, lipids and proteins as respiratory
substrates
5 - State that the respiratory quotient (RQ) is the ratio of the number of molecules of carbon
dioxide produced to the number of molecules of oxygen taken in, as a result of respiration
6 - calculate RQ values of different respiratory substrates from equations for respiration
7 - describe and carry out investigations, using simple respirometers, to determine the RQ of
germinating seeds or small invertebrates
Review Notes
Why do living organisms need energy
o anabolic reactions: protein synthesis, synthesis of glycogen (glycogenesis), DNA
replication, polymerisation
o active transport: Na+-K+ pump, movement of vesicles in exocytosis/endocytosis
o movement: muscle contraction, cilia/flagella movement, movement of
chromosomes
o maintenance of a constant body temperature
o bioluminescence/electrical discharge
What are the components of ATP
it has three components:
o Adenine (organic, nitrogenous base)
o Ribose sugar (pentose sugar)
o three phosphate groups
What are the characteristics of ATP
o Small
o Watersoluble → Easily transported around the cell
