Hydraulic fracturing (Fracking) is a process utilized to obtain natural gas from the ground. Operators drill deep down into fragile shale rock and pump a specialized mixture of chemical fluids into the well. The fluids increase the pressure inside the well and cause the shale to fracture. As the shale rocks fracture, fissures of natural gas are released from pockets within the earth. After the fluid has been pushed into the system, the natural gas is released through the drilled well and collected at the rig site on ground level. This fairly new and innovative process has yielded promising results and has created great controversy. Two scientists express their views on the hydraulic fracturing industry.

Study 1

     A study was completed in order to measure the amount of methane released at an individual fracking rig. The scientist places an apparatus on the rig that measures the amount of methane released into the atmosphere in a 16-month period. The data is located in Figure 1.

Figure 1

Study 2

     A researcher studies gaseous emissions in relation to global climate change. Global warming potential is the amount of energy that a gas absorbs over a 100-year period when compared to carbon dioxide. Through numerous studies, the researcher determines that methane has a global warming potential of 21 meaning that it will cause 21 times more warming over a 100-year period than an equivalent mass of carbon dioxide.

Methane is released from the drilling site in both a gaseous and liquid form. The methane often permeates the mud of local aquatic biomes. A certain bacteria utilizes methane to produce oxygen and energy. What is expected to happen to this bacteria population in the time span between months 4 and 14 of Figure 1?

Eukaryotic cells first appeared billions of years ago and were marked by the presence of membrane-bound organelles (organelles with a lipid bilayer surrounding them) similar to the outer and inner membranes of prokaryotes like bacteria. One of these membrane bound organelles is called the mitochondrion, which is responsible for helping generate energy in the form of a nucleotide-sugar molecule called adenosine triphosphate (also known as ATP).

By using only oxygen and glucose (a type of sugar composed of a single molecule) as reactants, the mitochondrion is responsible for generating ATP and water. In order to make ATP, animals must eat food products that contain sugars, such as potatoes, which contain molecules called starches that have many sugar molecules linked together. Once the sugar has been processed in the cell by an enzyme called amylase, it undergoes a process called glycolysis, which breaks down glucose into a molecule called pyruvate and provides 2 ATP molecules in the process.

After glycolysis, the pyruvate molecule is transported to the mitochondrion, carried across its membrane and then enters a process called the Kreb’s cycle, where a net of 34 ATP are produced. However, the process of transporting the pyruvate molecule into the mitochondrion requires 1 ATP. The ATP produced from both glycolysis and the Kreb’s cycle serves to allow the cell to carry out its housekeeping functions.

Prokaryotic cells do not contain membrane bound organelles. If a prokaryote, such as a bacterium, were to be able to perform glycolysis and the Kreb's cycle, how many ATP could be produced from one glucose molecule?

Eukaryotic cells first appeared billions of years ago and were marked by the presence of membrane-bound organelles (organelles with a lipid bilayer surrounding them) similar to the outer and inner membranes of prokaryotes like bacteria. One of these membrane bound organelles is called the mitochondrion, which is responsible for helping generate energy in the form of a nucleotide-sugar molecule called adenosine triphosphate (also known as ATP).

By using only oxygen and glucose (a type of sugar composed of a single molecule) as reactants, the mitochondrion is responsible for generating ATP and water. In order to make ATP, animals must eat food products that contain sugars, such as potatoes, which contain molecules called starches that have many sugar molecules linked together. Once the sugar has been processed in the cell by an enzyme called amylase, it undergoes a process called glycolysis, which breaks down glucose into a molecule called pyruvate and provides 2 ATP molecules in the process.

After glycolysis, the pyruvate molecule is transported to the mitochondrion, carried across its membrane and then enters a process called the Kreb’s cycle, where a net of 34 ATP are produced. However, the process of transporting the pyruvate molecule into the mitochondrion requires 1 ATP. The ATP produced from both glycolysis and the Kreb’s cycle serves to allow the cell to carry out its housekeeping functions.

How would the number of ATP produced change if the eukaryote cell were deprived of access to water for an extended period of time?

Eukaryotic cells first appeared billions of years ago and were marked by the presence of membrane-bound organelles (organelles with a lipid bilayer surrounding them) similar to the outer and inner membranes of prokaryotes like bacteria. One of these membrane bound organelles is called the mitochondrion, which is responsible for helping generate energy in the form of a nucleotide-sugar molecule called adenosine triphosphate (also known as ATP).

By using only oxygen and glucose (a type of sugar composed of a single molecule) as reactants, the mitochondrion is responsible for generating ATP and water. In order to make ATP, animals must eat food products that contain sugars, such as potatoes, which contain molecules called starches that have many sugar molecules linked together. Once the sugar has been processed in the cell by an enzyme called amylase, it undergoes a process called glycolysis, which breaks down glucose into a molecule called pyruvate and provides 2 ATP molecules in the process.

After glycolysis, the pyruvate molecule is transported to the mitochondrion, carried across its membrane and then enters a process called the Kreb’s cycle, where a net of 34 ATP are produced. However, the process of transporting the pyruvate molecule into the mitochondrion requires 1 ATP. The ATP produced from both glycolysis and the Kreb’s cycle serves to allow the cell to carry out its housekeeping functions.

How would the number of ATP produced change if the eukaryote cell were forced to live in a low-oxygen environment?

Eukaryotic cells first appeared billions of years ago and were marked by the presence of membrane-bound organelles (organelles with a lipid bilayer surrounding them) similar to the outer and inner membranes of prokaryotes like bacteria. One of these membrane bound organelles is called the mitochondrion, which is responsible for helping generate energy in the form of a nucleotide-sugar molecule called adenosine triphosphate (also known as ATP).

By using only oxygen and glucose (a type of sugar composed of a single molecule) as reactants, the mitochondrion is responsible for generating ATP and water. In order to make ATP, animals must eat food products that contain sugars, such as potatoes, which contain molecules called starches that have many sugar molecules linked together. Once the sugar has been processed in the cell by an enzyme called amylase, it undergoes a process called glycolysis, which breaks down glucose into a molecule called pyruvate and provides 2 ATP molecules in the process.

After glycolysis, the pyruvate molecule is transported to the mitochondrion, carried across its membrane and then enters a process called the Kreb’s cycle, where a net of 34 ATP are produced. However, the process of transporting the pyruvate molecule into the mitochondrion requires 1 ATP. The ATP produced from both glycolysis and the Kreb’s cycle serves to allow the cell to carry out its housekeeping functions.

A scientist examines a new organism that is able to utilize processes similar to both glycolysis and the Kreb's Cycle. What feature might the scientist see when looking at the organism under the microscope? 

Eukaryotic cells first appeared billions of years ago and were marked by the presence of membrane-bound organelles (organelles with a lipid bilayer surrounding them) similar to the outer and inner membranes of prokaryotes like bacteria. One of these membrane bound organelles is called the mitochondrion, which is responsible for helping generate energy in the form of a nucleotide-sugar molecule called adenosine triphosphate (also known as ATP).

By using only oxygen and glucose (a type of sugar composed of a single molecule) as reactants, the mitochondrion is responsible for generating ATP and water. In order to make ATP, animals must eat food products that contain sugars, such as potatoes, which contain molecules called starches that have many sugar molecules linked together. Once the sugar has been processed in the cell by an enzyme called amylase, it undergoes a process called glycolysis, which breaks down glucose into a molecule called pyruvate and provides 2 ATP molecules in the process.

After glycolysis, the pyruvate molecule is transported to the mitochondrion, carried across its membrane and then enters a process called the Kreb’s cycle, where a net of 34 ATP are produced. However, the process of transporting the pyruvate molecule into the mitochondrion requires 1 ATP. The ATP produced from both glycolysis and the Kreb’s cycle serves to allow the cell to carry out its housekeeping functions.

The endosymbiotic theory states that eukaryotes developed when one prokaryote absorbed another, forming the internal membrane-bound organelles. What would supporters of this theory have to prove to show that eukaryotes developed from prokaryotes?

Predator prey relationships can often influence the survivorship of species. Models are created to better visualize these relationships and their effects on population growths and declines. One way to display this information is to plot the density of the prey population against the number of prey consumed by a certain predator. As seen in Figure 1, three characteristic curves have been observed using this method. Curve Type I curve is the most unrealistic and exists when the number of prey consumed increases in direct proportion to the number of prey, with no limit on consumption. Curve Type II curve is characterized by a trend that shows the number of prey consumed per predator increasing quickly, but as the prey density increases the predators become satiated and the number of prey consumed stabilizes. Curve Type III resembles Type II in that it has an upper limit, but predators consume relatively few prey at lower densities due to various reasons.

Figure 1

Predator satiation occurs when predators cannot consume prey at an ever-increasing rate. It occurs when prey numbers grow faster than predators' abilities to hunt them. Which two types of curves in Figure 1 exhibit predator satiation?

Predator prey relationships can often influence the survivorship of species. Models are created to better visualize these relationships and their effects on population growths and declines. One way to display this information is to plot the density of the prey population against the number of prey consumed by a certain predator. As seen in Figure 1, three characteristic curves have been observed using this method. Curve Type I curve is the most unrealistic and exists when the number of prey consumed increases in direct proportion to the number of prey, with no limit on consumption. Curve Type II curve is characterized by a trend that shows the number of prey consumed per predator increasing quickly, but as the prey density increases the predators become satiated and the number of prey consumed stabilizes. Curve Type III resembles Type II in that it has an upper limit, but predators consume relatively few prey at lower densities due to various reasons.

Figure 1

Researchers in a lab study hares and lynxes. As hare reproduction rates increase, lynxes are added to the environment and do not reach satiation. What type of curve, in Figure 1, would best exhibit this scenario?

Predator prey relationships can often influence the survivorship of species. Models are created to better visualize these relationships and their effects on population growths and declines. One way to display this information is to plot the density of the prey population against the number of prey consumed by a certain predator. As seen in Figure 1, three characteristic curves have been observed using this method. Curve Type I curve is the most unrealistic and exists when the number of prey consumed increases in direct proportion to the number of prey, with no limit on consumption. Curve Type II curve is characterized by a trend that shows the number of prey consumed per predator increasing quickly, but as the prey density increases the predators become satiated and the number of prey consumed stabilizes. Curve Type III resembles Type II in that it has an upper limit, but predators consume relatively few prey at lower densities due to various reasons.

Figure 1

Barnacles reproduce exponentially when predators are absent from their environment. A certain species of barnacle flourishes in the open spaces of lower intertidal zones. Sea stars readily prey on these barnacles; however, they become satiated over time. What type of curve, in Figure 1, would best represent this scenario?

Predator prey relationships can often influence the survivorship of species. Models are created to better visualize these relationships and their effects on population growths and declines. One way to display this information is to plot the density of the prey population against the number of prey consumed by a certain predator. As seen in Figure 1, three characteristic curves have been observed using this method. Curve Type I curve is the most unrealistic and exists when the number of prey consumed increases in direct proportion to the number of prey, with no limit on consumption. Curve Type II curve is characterized by a trend that shows the number of prey consumed per predator increasing quickly, but as the prey density increases the predators become satiated and the number of prey consumed stabilizes. Curve Type III resembles Type II in that it has an upper limit, but predators consume relatively few prey at lower densities due to various reasons.

Figure 1

Hares can reproduce exponentially if left unchecked. When prey densities are low, hares can evade lynxes. As a result, the lynxes fail to develop a search image of the hare and do not prey on them exclusively. As prey densities increase, lynxes readily prey on hares until they reach satiation. What type of curve, in Figure 1, would best exhibit this scenario?