Cell Respiration Lab

Purpose: The purpose of this experiment was to see the effect of temperature and germination on the rate of cellular respiration of peas. The independent variable was how the cold the peas and also how germinated they were. The dependent variable was the chwnge in the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Introduction:
In cellular respiration, a oxygen is used and carbon dioxide is created. During cellular respiration, carbohydrates and oxygen are converted into carbon dioxide, water, and energy.

Methods, Charts, and Graphs:

    We used Carbon Dioxide and Oxygen sensors to measure the amount of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the container.

An example of how the sensors looked like.

Then We used a control group of glass beads to measure CO2 and O2 in e container, then measured the levels of the gases for non-germinating seeds. Above of the graphs of the Oxyegn and Carbon Dioxide for non-germinated.

      Then we put germinating seeds in the container, and measured the levels of the gases for 10 minutes. 

These are the graphs for the Levels for germinating beans.

     After that, we soaked the beans in ice water, and measured the rate of respiration for ten minutes for the cold beans. 

    O2 and CO2 levels for soaked beans.

We then repeated the process with peas.

Discussion:

Throughout the experiment, one could see that the amount of Oxygen in the containers with peas was decreasing while the amount of Carbon Dioxide was increase. With this information we can see that cell respiration occurred in the peas, because according to the cell respiration equation plants take in oxygen and take out Carbon Dioxide. When the peas are germinated, the levels of Oxygen and Carbons Dioxide changed throughout the time period, but when the peas were not germinated the levels of Oxygen and Carbin Dioxide remained somewhat constant. When the germinated peas were put into cold water, the decrease of Oxygen and increase of Carbon Dioxide was more dramatic compared to when the germinated peas were tested at room temperature. It is necessary for these germinated peas to go through cell respiration because they need to make enough energy needed for their growth and development. These peas can no longer go through photosynthesis to make energy, because they no longer capture the sunlight needed for photosynthesis.

Conclusion: 

Throughout this experiment we were trying to figure out how the cellular respiration equation was correct in peas. After doing the experiment we figured out the result of cellular respiration by seeing that the plant takes in Oxygen and gives out Carbin Dioxide in germinated peas.