Home / AP Biology 3.5 Cellular Respiration– Exam Style questions – FRQ

AP Biology 3.5 Cellular Respiration-- Exam Style questions - FRQ

Question

Topic – 3.4 Photosynthesis

(a) – Topic – 3.5 Cellular Respiration

(b) – Topic – 3.5 Cellular Respiration

(c) – Topic – 3.5 Cellular Respiration

(d) – Topic – 3.5 Cellular Respiration

Elevated levels of \(CO_{2}\) increase the rate of photosynthesis and growth in plants. Scientists studying the mechanisms involved in these increases examined a variety of species and found that when plants are exposed to elevated levels of \(CO_{2}\), there is an increase in the number of chloroplasts per cell. To investigate whether the elevated levels of \(CO_{2}\) have a similar effect on the number of mitochondria in plant cells, the scientists then selected six of these species to quantify the number of mitochondria per cell when the plants were exposed to both normal and elevated levels of \(CO_{2}\) (Table 1).

(a) Describe the role of the inner mitochondrial membrane in cellular respiration.

(b) Using the template in the space provided for your response, construct an appropriately labeled graph that represents the data in Table 1. Determine which species show(s) a difference in the number of mitochondria between normal and elevated levels of \(CO_{2}\).

(c) Based on the data in Table 1, describe the relationship between the level of CO2 and the average number of mitochondria per unit area of a cell.

(d) The leaves of a particular plant species are typically green, but scientists notice a plant in which the leaves have white stripes. They determine that the stripes result from a mutation in mitochondrial DNA that interferes with the development of chloroplasts. The scientists crossed plants using pollen from the plant with white-striped leaves and ovules from a plant with green leaves. Predict the phenotype(s) of the leaves of offspring produced from this cross. Provide reasoning to justify your prediction. Explain why plants with the same genotype are able to differ in the structure and/or number of certain organelles in response to changes in atmospheric levels of \(CO_{2}\).

▶️Answer/Explanation

2(a) Describe the role of the inner mitochondrial membrane in cellular respiration. Accept one of the following:
• It provides the location for the components of the electron transport chain/ATP synthase/oxidative phosphorylation.
• It separates (reactions in) the intermembrane space from (reactions in) the matrix.
• It allows the establishment of a proton gradient.

2(b) Using the template in the space provided for your response, construct an appropriately labeled graph that represents the data in Table 1.

Sample response:

• Appropriate labelling

Using the template in the space provided for your response, construct an appropriately labeled graph that represents the data in Table 1.
• Data are represented in a bar/modified bar graph.
Using the template in the space provided for your response, construct an appropriately labeled graph that represents the data in Table 1.
• Data points and error bars are correctly plotted.
Determine which species show(s) a difference in the number of mitochondria between normal and elevated levels of \(CO_{2}\) .
• All of the species

2(c) Based on the data in Table 1, describe the relationship between the level of \(CO_{2}\) and the average number of mitochondria per unit area of a cell.
Accept one of the following:
• The number of mitochondria is greater under conditions of elevated \(CO_{2}\) (than under normal \(CO_{2}\)).
• It is a positive relationship/correlation

2(d) The leaves of a particular plant species are typically green, but scientists notice a plant in which the leaves have white stripes. They determine that the stripes result from a mutation in mitochondrial DNA that interferes with the development of chloroplasts. The scientists crossed plants using pollen from the plant with white-striped leaves and ovules from a plant with green leaves. Predict the phenotype(s) of the leaves of offspring produced from this cross.
• The leaves will be (all) green/not have white stripes.

Provide reasoning to justify your prediction.
• (All offspring will have the same leaf phenotype as the ovule-producing plant
because) mitochondria are maternally inherited/transferred by the ovule.

Explain why plants with the same genotype are able to differ in the structure and/or number of certain organelles in response to changes in atmospheric levels of \(CO({2}\) .
• (Plants have different phenotypes because) changes in \(CO({2}\) levels/the environment affect the expression of certain genes. 

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