Question

2. The inflorescence (spadix) of skunk cabbage generates heat when it flowers and this can melt the snow around it. Suppose you dissected tissue samples from one of these flowers and treated them with each of the following separately: Aerated buffer alone, buffer flushed with nitrogen gas (to eliminate O₂), cyanide in aerated buffer, and cyanide in buffer flushed with nitrogen gas. What would happen to the temperature of the inflorescence under each treatment? Explain your thinking.

Answer 1

ANS- 1) Aerated buffer- oxygen is required for the respiration and it speed up the respiration and increase the energy and heat production.Change in temperature

2) Buffer flused with nitrogen GAS- No heat production due to  lack of oxygen in buffer.No change in temperature

3)Cynide in Aerated Buffer- Cynide inhibits the oxygen uptake by mitochondria and there is no last electron acceptor in ETC (electron transport chain). Heat production is stop in this condition. No change in temperature

  4) Cyanide in Non Aerated Buffer- Lack of oxygen cease the respiration process and heat production .No heat production.No change in temperature