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ScotlandBiology

Area 2: Metabolism and Survival

6 dot points across 6 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How do cells release energy from glucose to make ATP?

The stages of cellular respiration (glycolysis, the citric acid cycle and the electron transport chain), the role of ATP, NAD and dehydrogenase enzymes, the net energy yield of glycolysis, and the use of alternative respiratory substrates and fermentation in the absence of oxygen.
An SQA Higher Biology answer on cellular respiration, covering glycolysis, the citric acid cycle and the electron transport chain, the role of ATP, NAD and dehydrogenase enzymes, the net ATP yield of glycolysis, and fermentation when oxygen is absent.
11 min answer →

Why are microorganisms so useful for studying and exploiting metabolism?

The use of microorganisms in research and industry, their diverse metabolism and ability to use a range of substrates, growth in culture media and the phases of a growth curve, the production of primary and secondary metabolites, and the control of growth conditions in fermenters.
An SQA Higher Biology answer on the environmental control of metabolism in microorganisms, covering their use in research and industry, growth requirements and the phases of a growth curve, primary and secondary metabolites, and the control of conditions in fermenters.
9 min answer →

How can the genome of a microorganism be improved to make useful products?

Improving wild strains of microorganisms by mutagenesis and selective breeding, recombinant DNA technology and the use of plasmids and artificial chromosomes as vectors, the role of restriction endonucleases, ligase and marker genes, and the need for regulatory sequences and import of useful genes.
An SQA Higher Biology answer on the genetic control of metabolism, covering the improvement of microbial strains by mutagenesis and selective breeding, recombinant DNA technology, plasmid and artificial chromosome vectors, restriction endonucleases, ligase and marker genes.
10 min answer →

How do organisms survive periods when conditions are too harsh for normal metabolism?

Survival strategies that maintain metabolism when conditions are adverse, including dormancy (predictive and consequential), hibernation, aestivation and daily torpor, and migration as a way of avoiding unfavourable conditions, together with how migration is studied.
An SQA Higher Biology answer on surviving adverse conditions, covering predictive and consequential dormancy, hibernation, aestivation and daily torpor, and migration as a way of avoiding unfavourable conditions including how migratory behaviour is studied.
9 min answer →

How are the chemical reactions of metabolism organised and controlled?

Metabolic pathways as integrated networks of enzyme-controlled reactions, anabolic and catabolic reactions, the control of pathways by enzymes, induced fit, competitive and non-competitive inhibition, feedback inhibition, and the role of membranes in metabolism.
An SQA Higher Biology answer on metabolic pathways and their control, covering anabolic and catabolic reactions, enzyme action and induced fit, competitive and non-competitive inhibition, feedback inhibition, and the role of membranes in metabolism.
10 min answer →

How is metabolic rate measured, and how do conformers and regulators cope with their environment?

Metabolic rate and the ways it is measured, the relationship between metabolic rate and body structures in different animal groups, and the contrast between conformers and regulators in how they maintain their internal environment, including the costs and benefits of each strategy.
An SQA Higher Biology answer on metabolic rate and how it is measured, how metabolic rate relates to body structure across animal groups, and the contrast between conformers and regulators including the energy costs and benefits of each strategy.
9 min answer →