Cagney Watson Ms. Chartrand 6th Pre-Ap Biology 23 October 2017 Effect of Type of Carbohydrate on Respiration Rates in Yeast Introduction This experiment is based around yeast enzymes. This lab will show if yeast are capable of digesting certain sugars. The data collected in this experiment will also ultimately lead to the conclusion of which sugars are broken down the fastest by this organism. In order to lead to this conclusion, the amount of CO2 produced must be tested. Certain steps will be taken to test the amount of carbon dioxide produced because it is released during the respiration of yeast (Salveit). The yeast being used in this experiment, also known as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, are considered to be an eukaryotic and unicellular organism. Yeast are an …show more content…
The similarities that yeast share with humans are a main reason why yeast are a common experimental organism. In this experiment testing certain sugars on this organism can help understand how humans will react to these sugars. It is possible to make predictions as to how humans will react to these sugars by using yeast because of similar genes. Yeast are ideal experimental organisms because they are easy to get, and they are a simple organism (Yourgenome). In this experiment, four carbohydrates will be tested. These carbohydrates are: starch, glucose, sucrose, and lactose. Knowing the type of sugars that these carbohydrates are is a key part to understanding this experiment. Glucose is classified as a monosaccharide, lactose and sucrose as a disaccharide, and starch as a polysaccharide (IvyRose Holistic Health). The carbohydrates that are being tested can be found in everyday foods consumed by humans. Sources of glucose include bread and pasta (Kaiser Permanente). Sources of lactose include milk and yogurt. (Dietitians of Canada). Sucrose can be consumed through sugar cane and ice cream, and cookies and cereal are sources of starch (Anne