Shaleem Grant

Anaerobic Respiration in Yeast cells

Aim: To observe and measure the anaerobic respiration of yeast Results:

Number of Bubbles per minute 1 Min 2nd Min 3rd Min
st

13

Total Number of Bubbles 19

My Average 6

Class Average (True Value) 5

Questions: 1) What is the purpose of the liquid paraffin? The liquid paraffin acts as a barrier between any oxygen present and the yeast solution, thus preventing aerobic respiration from taking place and nullifying the experiment. 2) Why use boiled water for the solutions? Boiled water would not contain any oxygen, so by using it were preventing any oxygen being added to the solution and nullifying the experiment. 3) Write an equation for anaerobic respiration in yeast Glucose Ethanol + CO2 + Energy C6H12O6 2C2H5OH + 2CO2 + 2ATP 4) What would be a suitable control for this investigation? Use inactive yeast with boiling water along with the glucose solution; this would effectively kill the yeast cells and so prevent respiration from occurring. You could then prove respiration was occurring in the yeast cells.

Shaleem Grant 5) Discuss the limitations of the method and suggest improvements. Limitations The experiment was only carried out once which means our results were not as reliable as they could have been. Moreover we do not know whether there are any anomalous results or anything which could have affected our results as we have nothing to compare them to, aside from the class. It was difficult to keep the temperature of the water bath constant. Any changes in the temperature could have effectively sped up or slowed down the rate of respiration (more kinetic energy to enzymes). This could have a direct effect on the results we achieved. The amount of paraffin added when described as thin is subjective, and so different amounts of paraffin could be added across the different groups. This could affect the amount of CO2 which is allowed to surface as bubbles, and so the results collected could be distorted Improvements Carry out repeats to make the experiment more reliable.

Use a thermostatic water bath to control the temperature, or monitor the temperature of the water bath regularly with a thermometer and make any changes necessary during the experiment. Specify how much paraffin to use; small, more precise measuring equipment could be used in order to use to maintain the thin layer of paraffin.

6) Comment on the accuracy, reliability and precision of the data Accuracy: A class average was taken of the averages of each group in order to obtain a true value. Our result was very close to this class average; however that result may be distorted by any anomalous results throughout the groups. Reliability: The experiment was only carried out once by each of the groups, so the reliability was limited however based on the class results our results come across as quite reliable as they were reproduced by the rest of the class. Precision: As we were only counting the number of bubbles produced the data we got was precise as it could be (i.e. whole numbers). 7) Briefly describe how fermentation in yeast is useful on a commercial basis The fermentation of yeast allows the production of different foods and drinks. All the yeasts act on sugars which they then break down into CO2 and Alcohol for their food (by the use of enzymes). The yeast itself must be prepared in different ways in order to satisfy the commercial requirements. For example the most common use of yeast is in bakers yeast; a baker whos interested in the leavening action of the CO2 produced would want yeast produced via anaerobic conditions, whereas a baker who wants to produce more yeast cell mass would work under aerobic conditions. Another commercial yeast is brewers yeast, this is used when producing alcohol specifically beer. This yeast cannot act directly on the grains used in the brewing of beer, so the grains starch must first be converted into sugar by a process called malting. The yeast can then act on the grain converting the sugar to alcohol (the CO2 is pumped off and added later to carbonate the beer).

Shaleem Grant