How do organisms generate energy when oxygen is not available? Let's explore how humans, bacteria, yeast, and other organisms undergo fermentation to generate energy from food in the absence of oxygen. Before you get started, don’t forget to print out your OnTRACK Biology Journal.
TEKS Standards and Student Expectations
B(4) The student knows that cells are the basic structures of all living things with specialized parts that perform specific functions and that viruses are different from cells. The student is expected to:
B(4)(B) investigate and explain cellular processes, including homeostasis, energy conversions, transport of molecules, and synthesis of new molecules
Learning Objectives
Identify and describe the processes organisms use to release energy from food when oxygen is not available.
Describe the process human muscle cells use to release energy during strenuous exercise.
Explain the benefits and the challenges of fermentation.
Compare and contrast fermentation and cellular respiration.
Compare and contrast lactic acid fermentation and alcoholic fermentation.
Essential Questions
How do organisms generate energy when oxygen is not available?
How is fermentation similar to cellular respiration and how is it different?
How is fermentation in yeast similar to fermentation in human muscle cells and how is it different?
How do humans use fermenting bacteria and yeast to generate useful products?
Vocabulary
- ATP
- Fermentation
- Glycolysis
- Glucose
- NAD+/NADH
- Pyruvate (Pyruvic Acid)
- Lactic Acid Fermentation
- Lactic Acid (Lactate)
- Alcoholic Fermentation
- Ethyl Alcohol (Ethanol)