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Scientists measured the metabolic activity of mammalian cells by measuring the uptake of glucose into the cells - VCE - SSCE Biology - Question 3 - 2021 - Paper 1
Question 3
Scientists measured the metabolic activity of mammalian cells by measuring the uptake of glucose into the cells. The cells were maintained at 37 °C with a pH of 7.4 ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Scientists measured the metabolic activity of mammalian cells by measuring the uptake of glucose into the cells - VCE - SSCE Biology - Question 3 - 2021 - Paper 1
Step 1
Explain why the uptake of glucose into the cells could be used to measure the metabolic activity of the cells.
Answer
The uptake of glucose into the cells can be used as an indicator of metabolic activity as glucose is essential for cellular respiration.
Cells utilize glucose to produce ATP through aerobic respiration. The more glucose the cells take up, the higher their metabolic activity, which can be inferred from the amount of ATP generated.
Step 2
Would the uptake of glucose into the cells be expected to be higher, lower or the same as for the first experiment? Justify your response.
Answer
In low-oxygen conditions, the uptake of glucose into the cells would be expected to be higher than in normal conditions.
This is because, without sufficient oxygen, cells will not be able to perform aerobic respiration efficiently, leading them to rely on anaerobic respiration, which produces less ATP per molecule of glucose. As a result, cells would need to take in more glucose to meet energy demands, leading to increased glucose uptake.