AP Biology : Cellular Biology

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Biology

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Example Questions

Example Question #41 : Understanding Glycolysis

In comparison to fermentation, the aerobic pathway of glucose metabolism yields more of what?

Possible Answers:

Pyruvate

Ammonium

Ethanol

ATP

Acetaldehyde

Correct answer:

ATP

Explanation:

The correct answer to this question is ATP.

Fermentation is the metabolic process that takes place in anaerobic environments to regenerate  for glycolysis. ATP is the main product of cellular respiration and the molecular energy of the cell. The aerobic metabolism results in a very high yield of these energies because it can use oxygen as the final electron acceptor in the electron transport chain.

Example Question #41 : Understanding Glycolysis

In anaerobic conditions, pyruvate is converted into __________ in an effort to regenerate __________.

Possible Answers:

alcohol . . . 

lactate . . . carbon dioxide

lactate . . . ATP

lactate . . . 

Correct answer:

lactate . . . 

Explanation:

Anaerobic respiration occurs when there is not enough oxygen necessary for pyruvate to be shunted to the citric acid cycle. In the absence of oxygen, lactate is formed. The purpose of forming lactate is to also regenerate , as  can be used in a cyclical fashion to continue the process of cellular respiration. When oxygen supply returns, the pyruvate will be shunted away from the production of lactate and instead go to the citric acid cycle.

Example Question #41 : Understanding Glycolysis

Which of these processes occurs in both photosynthesis and respiration?

Possible Answers:

Calvin cycle

chemiosmosis

 

citric acid cycle

Krebs cycle

glycolysis

Correct answer:

chemiosmosis

 

Explanation:

Chemiosmosis is the coupling of the movement of electrons down the electron transport chain with the formation of ATP by utilizing the force of the proton gradient. Think about it this way, the creation of ATP is needed in both photosynthesis and respiration and this is why it is involved in both.

Example Question #41 : Understanding Glycolysis

Which of the following statements regarding glycolysis is correct?

Possible Answers:

glycolysis leads to the production of 2 ATP, 1 NADH, and 2 pyruvate

glycolysis is the first step in anaerobic respiration but not aerobic respiration

glycolysis occurs in the cytoplasm

glycolysis involves the production of G5P or glucose-5-phosphate

glycolysis can occur only with oxygen

Correct answer:

glycolysis occurs in the cytoplasm

Explanation:

The process of glycolysis indeed occurs in the cytoplasm. Answer 'glycolysis can occur only with oxygen' is incorrect, because glycolysis can actually occur with or without oxygen, due to oxygen playing no role in glycolysis.

Answer 'glycolysis is the first step in anaerobic respiration but not aerobic respiration' is incorrect, because glycolysis is simply the first step in BOTH anaerobic respiration and aerobic respiration.

Answer 'glycolysis leads to the production of 2 ATP, 1 NADH, and 2 pyruvate' is incorrect, because the end product of glycolysis is 2 NADH, not 1 NADH.

Answer 'glycolysis involves the production of G5P or glucose-5-phosphate' is incorrect, because glycolysis involves the production of G6P, not G5P.

Example Question #41 : Understanding Glycolysis

Why is the significance of lactic acid fermentation in anaerobic respiration? 

Possible Answers:

Since oxygen is no longer present to accept the electrons in the ETC, it provides an alternative path to make ATP. 

Lactic acid fermentation uses up pyruvate.

Lactic acid fermentation replenishes NAD+ so that glycolysis can continue.

Lactic acid fermentation gives a short term solution to the ATP crisis. 

Lactic acid fermentation creates ATP.

Correct answer:

Lactic acid fermentation replenishes NAD+ so that glycolysis can continue.

Explanation:

Since there is no more oxygen, we undergo anaerobic respiration, which in humans is lactic acid fermentation. Lactic acid does not produce any energy, so it doesn't solve the ATP crisis nor does it produce ATP. It is true that lactic acid fermentation does use up pyruvate, but so does the citric acid cycle. The importance is that lactic acid fermentation turns NADH into NAD+ so that it can be recycled into glycolysis to create ATP. 

Example Question #41 : Understanding Glycolysis

What causes muscle soreness? 

Possible Answers:

aerobic respiration 

reduction of glucose

alcohol fermentation

substrate level phosphorylation

lactic acid fermentation

Correct answer:

lactic acid fermentation

Explanation:

When the body isn't getting enough oxygen, it undergoes lactic acid fermentation. The purpose of lactic acid fermentation is so that your body can generate ATP through glycolysis by turning pyruvate into lactate and in the processes regenerating NAD+. Since lactate is poisonous, we eventually have to breathe. When oxygen combines with lactate it turns into lactic acid, which in turn causes muscle soreness. 

Example Question #1 : Understanding The Citric Acid Cycle

Where does the citric acid cycle take place in eukaryotic cells?

Possible Answers:

Endoplasmic reticulum

Mitochondria

The cytosol

Golgi body

The nucleus

Correct answer:

Mitochondria

Explanation:

The citric acid cycle, also known as the Kreb's cycle, occurs within the mitochondria of eukaryotic cells. In prokaryotic cells, it occurs in the cytosol.

Example Question #1 : Understanding The Citric Acid Cycle

The citric acid cycle takes place in the __________.

Possible Answers:

inner mitochondrial membrane

cytosol

mitochondrial matrix

intermembrane space

Correct answer:

mitochondrial matrix

Explanation:

The citric acid cycle takes place in the mitochondrial matrix.

Glycolysis takes place in the cytosol, and the electron transport chain involves both the intermembrane space and the inner mitochondrial membrane.

Pyruvate from glycolysis is transported into the mitochondrial matrix for the citric acid cycle. Energy from the citric acid cycle allows protons to be pumped to the intermembrane space. The electron transport chain involves proteins along the inner mitochondrial membrane, eventually resulting in the activation of ATP synthase due to the influx of protons along their gradient.

Example Question #2 : Understanding The Citric Acid Cycle

A sample of rats were fed glucose  containing radioactive oxygen. After a few minutes, where would the radioactive oxygen be found?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

In cellular respiration, glucose first undergoes glycolysis and is broken down into two pyruvate molecules. As the pyruvate passes through the citric acid cycle, three molecules of  are produced. The radioactive oxygen molecules would be found in the .

 is formed when electrons removed from glucose are used to reduce  is produced by the phosphorylation of . The oxygen in  enters the mitochondrion as gaseous molecular oxygen from the atmosphere, not from glucose. Finally,  is reduced to water in cellular respiration and serves as a reactant, rather than a product, in cell metabolism.

Example Question #3 : Understanding The Citric Acid Cycle

Where does the Krebs cycle take place?

Possible Answers:

Mitochondrial matrix

Intermembrane space of the mitochondria

In the cytosol

On the inner membrane of the mitochondria

Correct answer:

Mitochondrial matrix

Explanation:

The Krebs cycle takes place in the mitochondrial matrix. The products of glycolysis, which takes place in the cytosol, are brought to the mitochondria for the Krebs cycle and electron transport chain. The electron carriers generated during the Krebs cycle (NADH and FADH2) are then used in the electron transport chain, which takes place on the inner membrane of the mitochondria.

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