The Effects of

Temperature on
Cellular Respiration

By: Natalie Long, Carolyn Hayes, and Samantha Kalis

Hypothesis

In hot temperatures, molecules move faster. This means that there are more
frequent collisions with reacting molecules. These collisions possess the necessary
kinetic energy to break bonds. However, respiration is catalyzed by proteins which
are sensitive to heat and will unfold in extremes. In cold temperatures, cellular
movement decreases and in result is too slow to sustain life. Knowing this, it can be
predicted that if the temperature of the rocks is manipulated the extremes will
exhibit less cellular respiration.
Background
Cellular Respiration- Cellular respiration
refers to the catabolic pathways by which
cells release energy from the chemical bonds
of food molecules, in turn providing energy
for life. Cellular respiration can be aerobic (in
the presence of oxygen) and anaerobic. The
result of this process is the breaking down of
organic molecules for the production of ATP.
In Prokaryotic cells the site cellular
respiration is carried out within the
cytoplasm, while in Eukaryotic cells it is
typically carried out in the mitochondria.
Background Continued...

Photosynthesis- Photosynthesis is the process by which plants use the energy from
sunlight to produce sugar. Cellular respiration then converts this sugar into ATP. The
reaction of this process can be written as:

6H20+ 6CO2---->C6H12O6+6O2

Temperature- Temperature can be described as the intensity of heat present in a

substance or object with reference to some standard value.
Procedure

1. Label each cuvette pipet based on environment. (room, incubator, boiling,

freezing)

2. Use a pipet that has been converted into a scoop to transfer the algae beads
into the cuvette. Pur 5 algae beads into each cuvette.

3. Use a different pipet to remove excess liquid.

4. Place about 1 mL of water into each cuvette using a pipet. Let it sit for 5 min and
then remove the water using a pipet.

5. Place 1 mL of your indicator into each cuvette using a pipet.

6. Place each cuvette in its environment and leave for 30 minutes. (freezing:
Procedure

7. Use a thermometer to measure the temperature of each environment in degrees

celsius.
8. Collect data by placing algae beads and indicator from each cuvette into a
separate test tubes that are compatible with the spectrophotometer.
9. Place each test tube into spectrophotometer and close the lid. Wait for the
numbers to stabilize and then collect data from screen.

Materials: 4 cuvettes, 6 pipettes, spectrophotometer, 20 algae beads, indicator,

thermometer, ice, 2 beakers, test tubes for spectrophotometer, water, sharpie,
scissors
Data/Observations

Envi Tem Abs Tra Observ

ron p of orb ns ations
men Envi anc
t ron e
men
t
In
cels
us

Iced 2 0.03 92.5 Yellow

4 %

Roo 13 0.03 92.4 Light

m 4 % orange
Analysis
Photosynthesis

The temperature that had the least photosynthesis was the boiled sample, it had the
lowest absorbance of .034

On the other hand the sample that showed the highest photosynthesis was the
incubation sample, it had an absorbance of .112

Respiration

The sample with the highest respiration was boiled, this had a ph of 8.4

The sample with the lowest was iced, it had 7.3

Conclusion

The conclusion was proved wrong and right at the same time, in reference to the
respiration levels it is false the two extremes showed the most and least reparation.
The opposite was true for absorbance the the middle temps showed the most and
least photosynthesis. It because of the molecular movement that changes with the
temps. And it was proven when the proteins unfolded leading to low resperation
levels.
Possible reasons for error

Possible errors can be the exposure to sun between the different samples for
example the incubator sample does not have as much sun as the iced one did

Another possible error was the time he sample sat over night it could have given
inaccurate results
Bibliography
Cellular Respiration. (2016, September 2). Retrieved January 17, 2017, from
http://www.biology-pages.info/C/CellularRespiration.html

Campbell, N. A., & Reece, J. B. (2008). Biology (8th ed.). San Francisco, Calif.: Pearson/Cummings.

PHOTOSYNTHESIS. (n.d.). Retrieved January 17, 2017, from

https://www2.estrellamountain.edu/faculty/farabee/biobk/BioBookPS.html

Pictures:

1st Slide: Hot And Cold Thermometer Clipart Panda Free Clipart Images. (2016). Retrieved from
http://www.clipartkid.com/cold-thermometer-cliparts

3rd Slide: Cellular Respiration. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.slideshare.net/cgales/cellular-respiration