For those who have still no idea what is anaerobic respiration, let's just start with the word, respiration first. What is respiration? Respiration is the transport of oxygen from the clean air to the tissue cells and the transport of carbon dioxide in the opposite direction. And to be more specific, oxygen gas is brought to cell level for cellular respiration. What is that all about again? Well, cellular respiration is simply the metabolic reactions and processes that take place in a cell or across the cell membrane to get biochemical energy from fuel molecules and then release of the cells' waste products. Energy can be released by the oxidation of multiple fuel molecules and is stored as "high-energy" carriers. The energy formed is roughly 38 ATP molecules.
Well, in short, it's simply the process in which energy is generated from the body. Cellular respiration, though, is divided into two types - aerobic and anaerobic respiration. Aerobic respiration is a process in which cellular respiration occurs when there is a huge supply of oxygen. Not to say huge, but enough for it to happen. This is our normal way of respiration when mainly at rest. As I said, most of the time.
On the other hand, we now enter our main topic. Anaerobic respiration, this is a process that occurs when the oxygen uptake is insufficient to be used for aerobic respiration. In normal English, it means that there is not enough oxygen in the body, hence, aerobic respiration cannot be done. So, another type of respiration is needed to supply energy to the body. Though, since this is not the usual means of respiration, the energy made is a lot less than normal aerobic respiration, which provides 38 ATP molecules. This one only provides the body with 2 ATP molecules.
When does this happen? The bigger question is, when does the oxygen uptake of the body become insufficient? Simple. When we do heavy exercises, we tend to use up a lot of oxygen for aerobic respiration. At this stage, the oxygen is quickly used up to produce a mass of energy so that enough energy is used for the specific activities. Hence, the oxygen shortage. So, anaerobic respiration is required to give that extra bit of energy to the body.
To describe this process, it can be differentiated into both plant and animal anaerobic respirations. In the plant's case, the glucose is converted into ethanol while constantly regenerating the NAD+ ions from the NADH accumulated due to the inability of the electron transfer chain to continue in aerobic respiration because of the shortage of oxygen. Hence, a huge sum of alcohol is formed in the plant. Though, plants have a way to burn off the alcohol, so no side effects are formed from this, other than the lower amount of energy provided, that is.
Next, we go to an animal's way of undergoing anaerobic respiration. It is the same as that of a plant. But this time, lactic acid or lactate is formed instead of alcohol. Don't ask why, but it's the NATURE as my chemical lecturer calls it for the electrolytes, but same applies in here. Lactic acid, however, is poisonous to the body cells of mainly higher mammals, like humans. As all acids are, lactic acid also shows the properties of acids and the damage that they can deal to all humans. For example, an acid's corrosiveness is one of its main destroying powers. Hence, we humans are unable to perform anaerobic respiration continuously for a long period of time. This is because lactic acid would build up or accumulate in our body, causing the poisonous characteristic of lactic acid to damage the body cells. If prolonged exposure to this occurs, the body might either one, be slowly reduced of body cell count, or have a huge lack of energy due to the low amount of energy produced when a lot of energy is needed. Hence, oxygen is needed to further oxidize the lactate and this amount of extra intake is called the oxygen debt.
This is why we feel the pain after running 500 metres of Chung Ling's track on the field. The leg's pain comes from the lactic acid accumulating in our leg, more specifically the muscle area, causing some pain on the area. That is why we need to breathe in all the oxygen after undergoing strenuous exercise. But that is not why we are here today! Now, if there are so many disadvantages of anaerobic respiration, why would I say it helps the world?
Ok, this can be explained with one simple reason. If anyone reads organic chemistry, I am sure this topic shall be touched sooner or later as it is one of the basics of organic chemistry.
We have ethanol after yeast fermentation, otherwise known as anaerobic respiration of plants. In animals, lactic acid is formed. With this, we can make a scenario like this :
One day, when a certain someone has terrible body odour and is just finished with sports, how do we solve this? Well, as most things in this world are solved indirectly, one way or another. We first take a couple of plant or yeast molecules. Then, we shall inject it into the muscle cells of the living human! What would it do? Haha, I'm sure you all realise that there is now a mixture of lactic acid and ethanol as anaerobic respiration occurs! Hence, with this equation, we shall create a mixture that no one has ever done! Observe,
Ethanol + Lactic acid >>>>>>>>>> Ethyl Lactate + Water!
Presto! Woah! We have ester! A very suitable odour-be-gone secret as the fruity smell will guarantee a mesmerizing smell of perfume in the body, erasing every bad smell there is! And what's more? No more problems from lactic acid! It's a 'buy-1-free-1' scenario, right? Plus, more water in the body for further consumption! Though..... I don't know about the side effects of this. We'll leave the scientists for this part. But till then, we shall see! Off with today's nutty and maniacal discovery! Oh ya, and let's see what Sports Illustrated magazine's Sportsman of the Year Brett Favre has to say about this!
haha....Till the next time, guys! Though, I have nothing to say about the buttery smell of ethyl lactate on wiki...... Haha....
1 comment:
lolx...try using more simple terms boleh? lolx.....bt overall...its a nice passage...although it doesnt cure my prob.
and as i said....<2% of the brain is used
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