Academic Excellence

Making Kimchi in Biology

9th Grade Biology

kimchi_3Ever wonder why our muscles get sore and ache when we exercise rigorously in a short amount of time? In the presence of oxygen, we can make up to 38 ATPs (energy molecules) out of only 1 sugar molecule. But it takes time for our cells to do that. When we need emergency energy and have already used up all our available stores, our cells revert to something called lactic acid fermentation, which makes a few ATPs quickly.

However, the drawback is that the byproduct is lactic acid which builds up in our muscles and causes the soreness. Here the girls are making their own kimchi and testing the pH of it every week to see fermentation working in absence of oxygen.

Don’t worry, no one ate the test kimchi!kimchi_5

Categories: Academic Excellence

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