Question

An experiment to measure the rate of respiration in crickets and mice at 10ᵒ C and 25ᵒ C was performed using a respirometer, an apparatus that measures changes in gas volume. Respiration was measured in mL of O2 consumed per gram of organism over several five-minute trials, and the following data were obtained.

According to the data, the mice at 10ᵒ C demonstrated greater oxygen consumption per gram of tissue than did the mice at 25ᵒ C. This is most likely explained by which of the following statements?

A. The mice at 10ᵒ C had a higher rate of ATP production than the mice at 25ᵒ C.
B. The mice at 10ᵒ C had a lower metabolic rate than the mice at 25ᵒ C.
C. The mice at 25ᵒ C weighed less than the mice at 10ᵒ C.
D. The mice at 25ᵒ C were more active than the mice at 10ᵒ C.

Answer 1

Mice at 10°C showed greater oxygen consumption per gram of tissue compared to those at 25°C, likely due to the increased metabolic rate required to maintain body temperature at the colder environment.

Step-by-step explanation:

An experiment involving a respirometer to measure the rate of respiration in mice differentiates the oxygen consumption at varying temperatures. The observation that mice at 10°C had greater oxygen consumption per gram of tissue than those at 25°C can be surprising as metabolic rates typically increase with temperature.

However, this can be explained by the need for mice to generate more heat to maintain body temperature at the colder temperature, thus resulting in an increased metabolic rate to produce more ATP (adenosine triphosphate) for heat generation and not necessarily for a higher rate of ATP production overall.Mice at 10°C showed greater oxygen consumption per gram of tissue compared to those at 25°C, likely due to the increased metabolic rate required to maintain body temperature at the colder environment.