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Why are the rates of consumption of glucose and formation of lactate at 50 °C the same irrespective of oxygen levels? A - VCE - SSCE Biology - Question 20 - 2023 - Paper 1
Question 20
Why are the rates of consumption of glucose and formation of lactate at 50 °C the same irrespective of oxygen levels? A. Most of the enzymes involved in glycolysis h... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Why are the rates of consumption of glucose and formation of lactate at 50 °C the same irrespective of oxygen levels? A - VCE - SSCE Biology - Question 20 - 2023 - Paper 1
Step 1
A. Most of the enzymes involved in glycolysis have become denatured.
Answer
At elevated temperatures, such as 50 °C, enzymes can undergo denaturation, leading to a loss of their functional capacity. However, even if the enzymes are denatured, the metabolic processes may continue at a consistent rate due to alternative pathways or mechanisms that do not rely on these enzymes.
Step 2
B. Glucose is converted to ATP by a single chemical reaction.
Answer
This statement oversimplifies glucose metabolism. Glucose metabolism involves multiple steps including glycolysis and the Krebs cycle. However, at 50 °C, the end products may still form at consistent rates despite reduced efficiency in some steps.
Step 3
C. At 50 °C the cell uses heat as a source of energy.
Answer
Cells primarily convert chemical energy from substrates like glucose to produce ATP. At 50 °C, while some cellular functions might rely on heat, the rate of glucose consumption remains independent of oxygen levels as metabolic pathways adapt to the heat without involving heat as a primary energy source.
Step 4
D. At 50 °C metabolic pathways are very efficient.
Answer
While metabolic pathways can sometimes function efficiently at varying temperatures, at such high temperatures many enzymes can lose their functionality, leading to inconsistencies. Although some pathways might be efficient, the high temperature generally disrupts the normal rates of metabolic processes.