Cellular Respiration in
Germinated Peas
ELISE HIGGINS
ACADEMY OF NOTRE DAME
GRADE 9
Problem
 How does temperature affect cellular respiration?
Research
 Germination is when a plant or fungus emerges from




a seed or spore and begins to grow
Cellular respiration produces energy
Cellular respiration breaks down sugar to produce
ATP (adenosine triphosphate)
Cellular respiration consumes oxygen
Other experiments show that peas in cold water
undergo cellular respiration more slowly than those
in warm water
Hypothesis
 If the peas are going through cellular respiration at a
cooler temperature, then they will go through
cellular respiration more slowly. If peas have not
germinated yet, then they will not go through cellular
respiration.
Materials
 60 germinated peas
 10 plastic beads
 4 100 mL beakers
 Seal
 Cold and warm water
 Thermometer
Procedure
 The peas were placed on wet paper towels with more




wet paper towels on top so they would germinate
10 peas were placed in a beaker which was then
corked and sealed; repeat twice
10 plastic beads to be used as a control were placed
in a beaker which was then corked and sealed
Place all the beakers in the cold water (4° C)
Repeat process and put the beakers in warm water
(20° C)
Results
20° C
4° C

o
o

o
o

o
o

o
o
Beaker 1:
4o minutes- .2 mL
60 minutes- .4 mL
Beaker 2:
40 minutes- .6 mL
60 minutes- .9 mL
Beaker 3:
40 minutes- 0 mL
60 minutes- 0 mL
Control:
40 minutes- 0 mL
60 minutes- 0 mL
Average for 40 minutes: .2667 mL
Average for 60 minutes: .4333 mL

o
o

o
o

o
o

o
o
Beaker 1:
40 minutes- .4 mL
60 minutes- .7 mL
Beaker 2:
40 minutes- .1 mL
60 minutes- .5 mL
Beaker 3:
4o minutes- .3 mL
60 minutes- .8 mL
Control:
40 minutes- 0 mL
60 minutes- 0 mL
Average for 40 minutes: .2667 mL
Average for 60 minutes: .6667 mL
Data
Temperature and Respiration
1.2
y = 0.0078x - 0.0587
y = 0.011x - 0.08
Oxygen (mL)
1
0.8
0.6
4C
0.4
20 C
Control
0.2
0
-10
-0.2
0
10
20
30
Time (min)
40
50
60
70
Conclusion
 Hypothesis:If the peas are going through cellular
respiration at a cooler temperature, then they will go
through cell respiration more slowly. If peas have not
germinated yet, then they will not go through cellular
respiration.
 My hypothesis was supported because the non-
germinated peas, or beads, did not go through
cellular respiration. Also, the peas at a cooler
temperature went through cellular respiration more
slowly than the peas in the warm water.
Thank you!
 http://www.biologyjunction.com/lab_5_cellular_respira
tion_by_kr.htm
http://www.scribd.com/doc/7570252/AP-Biology-LabFive-Cell-Respiration
www.hartnell.edu/faculty/awright/**pea**%20seed%20
**respiration**.doc
http://www2.vernier.com/sample_labs/AWV-14BCOMP-cell_respiration_O2.pdf
http://www.biologyjunction.com/lab_5_ap_sample_2_
cell_resp.htm