Textbook Question
Identify at least two advantages of breathing air instead of water.
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Ch. 42 - Gas Exchange and Circulation
Freeman8th EditionBiological ScienceISBN: 9780138276263
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Table of contents
- Ch. 1 - Biology: The Study of Life13
- Ch. 2 - Water and Carbon: The Chemical Basis of Life14
- Ch.3 - Protein Structure and Function10
- Ch.4 - Nucleic Acids and the RNA World10
- Ch. 5 - An Introduction to Carbohydrates10
- Ch. 6 - Lipids, Membranes, and the First Cells11
- Ch. 7 - Inside the Cell10
- Ch. 8 - Energy and Enzymes: An Introduction to Metabolism10
- Ch. 9 - Cellular Respiration and Fermentation11
- Ch. 10 - Photosynthesis12
- Ch. 11 - Cell-Cell Interactions12
- Ch. 12 - The Cell Cycle8
- Ch. 13 - Meiosis12
- Ch. 14 - Mendel and the Gene23
- Ch. 15 - DNA and the Gene: Synthesis and Repair15
- Ch. 16 - How Genes Work16
- Ch. 17 - Transcription, RNA Processing, and Translation16
- Ch. 18 - Control of Gene Expression in Bacteria16
- Ch. 19 - Control of Gene Expression in Eukaryotes12
- Ch. 20 - The Molecular Revolution: Biotechnology, Genomics, and New Frontiers15
- Ch. 21 - Genes, Development, and Evolution12
- Ch. 22 - Evolution by Natural Selection16
- Ch. 23 - Evolutionary Processes13
- Ch. 24 - Speciation15
- Ch. 25 - Phylogenies and the History of Life13
- Ch. 26 - Bacteria and Archaea15
- Ch. 27 - Diversification of Eukaryotes16
- Ch. 28 - Green Algae and Land Plants16
- Ch. 29 - Fungi18
- Ch. 30 - An Introduction to Animals9
- Ch. 31 - Protostome Animals15
- Ch. 32 - Deuterostome Animals17
- Ch. 33 - Viruses16
- Ch. 34 - Plant Form and Function16
- Ch. 35 - Water and Sugar Transport in Plants16
- Ch. 36 - Plant Nutrition13
- Ch. 37 - Plant Sensory Systems, Signals, and Responses16
- Ch. 38 - Flowering Plant Reproduction and Development16
- Ch. 39 - Animal Form and Function17
- Ch. 40 - Water and Electrolyte Balance in Animals16
- Ch. 41 - Animal Nutrition16
- Ch. 42 - Gas Exchange and Circulation16
- Ch. 43 - Animal Nervous Systems16
- Ch. 44 - Animal Sensory Systems16
- Ch. 45 - Animal Movement11
- Ch. 46 - Chemical Signals in Animals16
- Ch. 47 - Animal Reproduction and Development16
- Ch. 48 - The Immune System in Animals16
- Ch. 49 - An Introduction to Ecology15
- Ch. 50 - Behavioral Ecology16
- Ch. 51 - Population Ecology16
- Ch. 52 - Community Ecology20
- Ch. 53 - Ecosystems and Global Ecology17
- Ch. 54 - Biodiversity and Conservation Ecology18
Chapter 42, Problem 3
Which of the following promotes oxygen release from hemoglobin?
a. A decrease in temperature
b. An increase in O₂ level.
c. A decrease in pH
d. A decrease in carbonic anhydrase activity
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the Bohr effect: The Bohr effect describes how changes in pH and carbon dioxide concentration affect hemoglobin's affinity for oxygen. A decrease in pH (more acidic environment) or an increase in carbon dioxide concentration promotes oxygen release from hemoglobin.
Analyze the options: Consider how each option affects hemoglobin's ability to release oxygen. A decrease in temperature generally stabilizes hemoglobin's structure, making it less likely to release oxygen.
Consider the role of pH: A decrease in pH (option c) indicates an increase in hydrogen ion concentration, which can lead to a conformational change in hemoglobin, reducing its affinity for oxygen and promoting oxygen release.
Evaluate the effect of carbonic anhydrase: Carbonic anhydrase is an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of carbon dioxide and water to bicarbonate and protons. A decrease in its activity (option d) would lead to less production of protons, potentially increasing pH and reducing oxygen release.
Conclude based on the Bohr effect: Given the options, a decrease in pH (option c) is most consistent with promoting oxygen release from hemoglobin due to the Bohr effect.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Hemoglobin and Oxygen Binding
Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells responsible for transporting oxygen from the lungs to tissues. It binds oxygen in the lungs and releases it in tissues where oxygen levels are lower. The binding and release of oxygen are influenced by various factors, including temperature, pH, and the presence of other molecules like carbon dioxide.
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Oxygen Dissociation Curve and the Bohr Shift
Bohr Effect
The Bohr Effect describes how changes in pH and carbon dioxide concentration affect hemoglobin's affinity for oxygen. A decrease in pH (more acidic conditions) or an increase in carbon dioxide levels leads to hemoglobin releasing oxygen more readily. This is because hydrogen ions and carbon dioxide bind to hemoglobin, altering its structure and reducing its affinity for oxygen.
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10:50Oxygen Dissociation Curve and the Bohr Shift
Carbonic Anhydrase Activity
Carbonic anhydrase is an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of carbon dioxide and water into carbonic acid, which dissociates into bicarbonate and hydrogen ions. This reaction is crucial for maintaining acid-base balance in blood and facilitating carbon dioxide transport. A decrease in carbonic anhydrase activity would slow this conversion, potentially affecting pH and, consequently, hemoglobin's oxygen release.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
Frog lungs have a smaller surface area for gas exchange than mammalian lungs. How do frogs compensate for this difference?
a. Frog tissue absorbs more oxygen from the blood than mammalian tissue does.
b. Frogs breathe more quickly than mammals.
c. Frogs also obtain oxygen via diffusion across the skin.
d. Frog lung tissue has a greater density of capillary beds than mammalian lung tissue.
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Textbook Question
Which of the following statements regarding the insect tracheal system is/are correct? Select True or False for each statement.
T/F Tracheae dilate and constrict during flight or other types of movement, functioning as a 'breathing' mechanism.
T/F Spiracles open into the body cavity, allowing direct contact between the air and hemolymph.
T/F Tracheae carry oxygen to alveoli; here the oxygen diffuses into the hemolymph to be delivered to tissues.
T/F Spiracles can close to minimize water loss.
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Textbook Question
Explain how each parameter in Fick's law of diffusion is reflected in the structure of the mammalian lung.
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Textbook Question
Describe the disadvantages of an open circulatory system relative to a closed circulatory system.
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