Written by Jennifer Wiatrowski, Pasco-Hernando Community College

Relating the value of aerobic respiration to the real world. The students in introductory biology have very little interest in cellular respiration. But, I want them to understand that there is greater value (in terms of ATP yield) between aerobic and anaerobic respiration (like with exercise). So, I relate the processes to “dollars in your pocket” and “spending power at a fancy restaurant.” Anaerobic processes give your 2 ATP or 2 dollars in your pocket. Could this buy you anything at a fancy restaurant? No! This is not a lot of spending power. If you complete aerobic respiration, you have approximately 38 ATP or dollars in your pocket. Could this buy you something at a fancy restaurant? Yes! Now, you have spending power.

Jennifer Wiatrowski, Pasco-Hernando Community College

Relating the function of mitochondria and energy conversion to the real world. I ask students if they could charge their iPods by plugging it into a lump of coal or a waterfall (they generally laugh and say “no”). I then ask them if there is energy in a lump of coal or a waterfall (they  say “yes”). So, I reason that in order to utilize the energy in the coal or the falling water, it must be converted to another form. For charging their iPod, it must be changed into electricity and this is accomplished by a power plant. Now, I ask them what is the main energy source for cells? (They usually know this is sugar from earlier in the semester). I then explain that sugar is like a lump of coal to a cell. Full of energy, but inaccessible in that form. So, the job of the mitochondria is to convert the energy in sugar into a form the cell can use, ATP.Roblox HackBigo Live Beans HackYUGIOH DUEL LINKS HACKPokemon Duel HackRoblox HackPixel Gun 3d HackGrowtopia HackClash Royale Hackmy cafe recipes stories hackMobile Legends HackMobile Strike Hack