Yeast Lab

Background:
Aerobic cellular respiration is what our bodies use to break down molecules
into a form of energy that we can use: ATP. In the first step, Glycolysis,
oxygen is not required. However, for the Krebs cycle and the Electron
transport chainwhich creates NAD+ used in Glycolysisthey require
oxygen. If oxygen is not present, then how does our body continue to make
ATP in Glycolysis? The whole cycle would stop if not for a process called
fermentation. When oxygen is not present our body continues to make ATP
through a process called fermentation, which creates the NAD+ needed in
Glycolysis by converting pyruvate acids into either ethanol, or lactic acid
(plus other byproducts) depending on the type of fermentation (Lactic of
Alcoholic) and the type of cell. Fermentation can be used for quick bursts of
energy, unlike the long process of cellular respiration. In this lab, yeast
probably went through Alcoholic fermentation. This was indicated in the
smell it gave off, of ethanol, which is a byproduct of Alcoholic fermentation.

Hypothesis: If starches were added, then the rate of cellular respiration

would decrease because it would take longer to break down the
polysaccharide into a monosaccharide to use as energy.

Materials:

-1 tsp Starch
-1 tsp fructose

-1 tsp glucose
-water
-3 test tubes
-3 tsp of yeast
- 10-15 drops of bromothymol blue
-Bromothymol blue gradient chart

Procedure:
1.

Fill each (4) test tube with water

2.

Place 1 tsp starch, with 1 tsp yeast in one

4.

Place 1 tsp glucose in the other with 1 tsp yeast

5.

Place 1 tsp yeast in the last testtube

6.

Add 10-15 drops of bromothymol blue to each test tube.

7.

Wait 10-15 minutes

8.

Compare the colors on a bromothymol blue gradient.

9.

Record results

Raw Data:
Test Tube
Yeast
Yeast and Glucose
Yeast and Starch

Color
6.0
6.2
7.2

Data Analysis: Note Bromothymol Blue turns yellow in the presence of

Bromothymol Blue PH level of Test Tubes

CO2,
Conclusion:
Yes, the data supports my hypothesis because it has the highest color
number out of all of the test tubes. Since bromothymol blue turns yellow in
the presence of CO2, which is byproduct of cellular respiration, the fact that

the test tube with starch turned the least yellow supports my hypothesis
because it made the least CO2. I could test further molecules such as lipids,
or fructose to get more data on cellular respiration in other molecules. After
my first trial, I did change my procedure. You should put water in the test
tube after you put in the molecules and yeast or else you will end up with a
big mess and will be unable to shove the yeast down. Also, we cut down the
amount of yeast and molecules in each test tube because originally we put
too much.