Effects of Temperature on Rate of Cellular Respiration Problem: Is there an ideal temperature for peas/organisms to grow in as seen through cellular respiration? Angeline S., Kavinda W., and Ashwini N.

Background Hypothesis: The higher the temperature, the higher the rate of cellular respiration; likewise the lower the temperature, the lower the rate of cellular respiration. The peas that we have used are autotrophic. They use cellular respiration to create energy from glucose, which uses O₂ and creates CO₂. In higher temperatures, atoms and electrons are able to move faster, thus creating a higher rate of reaction as the necessary molecules are more likely to meet. This increases the rate of cellular respiration. The rate of cellular respiration, a combination of glycolysis, oxidation of pyruvate, Krebs cycle, and ETC, which rely on electron movement and enzymes, will be increased.

Procedures Temperatures: 1◦C, 15 ◦C, 25 ◦C –These temperatures are reasonable for what the peas normally grow in Tested: 2 day 25 germinating peas, non-germinating peas, glass beads with the same volumes in each condition –1◦C: put in ice bath and added salt –15 ◦C: put in ice bath, cold water, and added salt –25 ◦C: put on hot plate until it reached 25, then took it off –Put 3 tubes for each trial in cardboard holder with thermometer in beaker of trial’s temperature. –Kept temperature consistent

25 ˚ C1 ˚ C 15 ˚ C 25 ˚ C15 ˚ C1 ˚ C Rate of Germinating Rate of Non- germinating Rate of Glass beads e

Analysis Recalibration of data: We subtracted the rate of the glass beads from each trial because the rate should be 0. This subtracts the error of changing pressure from change in temperature.

Conclusion Germinating seeds are in the process of growing and therefore undergo cellular respiration faster than non-germinating seeds. Our non-germinating seeds are mostly dormant and do not consume as much energy as the growing seeds - therefore respiring at a slower rate. An increase in the temperature will cause an increase in the rate of cellular respiration. Cellular respiration decreases as temperature decreases.

Conclusion There is an optimal temperature for pea growth. Peas, according to our data, support the fact that high temperatures make reactions occur more quickly. Possible errors: Maintaining temperature of apparatus & loose stoppers Will certain temperatures denature enzymes or inactivate cellular respiration all together? Is there any relationship with the size of the seed itself to the rate of respiration?