Paul Hizon

AP Biology P2
October 16, 2015

CELLULAR RESPIRATION LAB REPORT

I.
OBJECTIVE : To test the effect of temperature on the rate of cell
respiration in germinating versus non-germinated seeds in a
controlled experiment.
HYPOTHESIS : a.) If we soak seeds in water, and the rate of
respiration is faster than in dry seeds, then soaking seeds in water
causes germination to be faster.
b.) If we soak seeds in water, and the rate of
respiration is slower than in dry seeds, then soaking seeds in water
causes germination to be slower.
II. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
The independent variable is the room temperature vs. cold
temperature, while the dependent variable is the change in volume of
oxygen inside the respirometers. The controlled variables are time,
seed type (great northern beans), and temperature.
III. DATA :

Measurement of O2 Consumption by Germinating & NonGerminating Seeds

Variab
le

Room
Temp.
22 oC

Time
(min.
)

Glass Beads
A:
Volume
@ time
X

B: Vol.
(eq.#1)

The Great Northern Bean

(Germinating Seeds)
C:
Volume
@time
X

D:
Vol.
(eq.#1)

E:Correcte
d Vol.
(eq.#2)
(D-B)

0.83 mL

Non-Germinating Seeds
F:
G:
Volum Vol.
e@
(eq.#
time X 1)

H:Correct
ed
Vol.
(eq.#2)
(G-B)

0.86 mL

0.85 mL

0.01 mL

0.81 mL

0.02 mL

0.01 mL

0.89
mL

0.00m
L

-0.01mL

10

0.84 mL

0.02 mL

0.77 mL

0.06 mL

0.04 mL

0.89
mL

0.00m
L

-0.02 mL

15

0.83 mL

0.03 mL

0.71 mL

0.12 mL

0.09 mL

0.88
mL

0.01m
L

-0.02 mL

20

0.82 mL

0.04 mL

0.68 mL

0.15 mL

0.11 mL

0.87
mL

0.02m
L

-0.02 mL

0.04 mL

0.03 mL

0.78 mL

0.74 mL

0.89
mL

Cold
2oC

10

0.70 mL

0.08 mL

0.06 mL

15

0.64 mL

0.14 mL

0.11 mL

20

0.59 mL

0.19 mL

0.15 mL

Equation #1: Volume = (reading @ time 0) (reading @ time X)

Equation #2: Corrected Volume = (difference in seeds @ time X) (difference in
beads @ time X)

IV. ANALYSIS
a.)
b.)

Graph (page 3)
Slope
Y

- Y 1
X2 - X1
experimental sample (2C)
SLOPE =

LEGENDS:
Germinating,
Germinating,

room temperature (22C)

Non-germinating,
dry seeds
=

.08 - .02
10.5 3.5

0.6
7
=

0.08
8.0 5
=

0.01
7.05

= 0.08
.10 - .02
14.5 - 6

= 0.09
-.02 - (-.01)
9 1.5

= -0.01

IV. CONCLUSION
According to the graph, the germinating seeds (control and
experimental) consumed more oxygen than the non-germinating
seeds. The control germinating seeds showed an oxygen consumption
rate of 0.09 mL/min., while the experimental germinating seeds
consumed an oxygen rate of 0.08 mL/min. The non-germinating
seeds, however, stayed the same or consumed a very little rate of
oxygen
(-0.01 mL/min.).
For control and experimental germinating seeds, as time increases,
the greater volume of oxygen is consumed. But in non-germinating
seeds, as time increases, it decreases in consumption of oxygen, or
otherwise, remained in its level or stayed in the same volume of
oxygen where it decreased down.
In this experiment, our group used a great northern beans, in which
the 1optimum germination conditions must be in 70F - 80F full
sunlight, and germination time of 8-10 days. It grows up to 2 ft. tall
and can be harvest in its sixtieth or hundredth day. Therefore, it must
take a long period of time to grow. It is reasonable that the
germinating beans that was placed in the room temperature
consumed more oxygen than the one placed in 2C place. The room
temperature - 22C, is close to 70F to slightly germinate the beans.
The non-germinating beans (dry) that was placed in the room
temperature obviously stayed the same, because without water, it
will not make any germination at all.
In this experiment, the possible error should be the placing of the
seal in the respirometer is not air-tight