This activity describes a mini- to
microscale setup that offers
an affordable, reproducible, and accurate method to compare the aerobic
and anaerobic respiration of Saccharomyces boulardii, a strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. By using cost-effective methodology and standards, students are
exposed to concepts such as stoichiometric relationships, yeast metabolism,
reaction kinetics, and analytical testing. Yeast CO2 production
is measured by reduction of mass (aerobic) and water displacement
volumetric change (anaerobic). Data collected from the activity are
used to compare the two modes of respiration. The activity presented
has been tested in the context of advanced high school chemistry material
and introductory undergraduate chemistry.