The effect of temperature on the carbon dioxide production of Saccharomyces cerevisiae as measured by the change in volume of carbon dioxide produced

Abstract

Cellular respiration occurs in Saccharomyces cerevisiae cultures in the presence of oxygen as glucose is oxidized and carbon dioxide is produced as a result of the process. For Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the optimal temperature for respiration should be close to 40ºC (Slaa et al. 2009), and we predicted that temperatures closer to 40ºC would result in a greater amount of carbon dioxide produced by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The effect of different temperatures was tested by putting respirometers with Saccharomyces cerevisiae in 20ºC, 30ºC, 35ºC, and 40ºC. The volumes of carbon dioxide produced were calculated using the height measured at each respirometer and were compared. At 40ºC and 35ºC, there was a significantly higher amount of carbon dioxide produced than at 20ºC and 30ºC. Saccharomyces cerevisiae produced more carbon dioxide at temperatures closer to 40ºC.