Q8 - Anaerobic Lactate-to-Ethanol Metabolism in Goldfish
The coldwater Goldfish have a high tolerance to anoxia. They can degrade carbohydrates to lactate and further reduce lactate to ethanol. In a study running for 12 hours with two groups of goldfish, data on these processes were gathered (Table). Concentration of lactate and ethanol in fish tissue, and compared with levels in the water of the aquarium, measured in terms of fish mass (kg).
Figure 1.
Using the information and data, determine which of the statements are true or which are false.
A. During the study, lactate accumulation in fish tissue amounts to about half of the total ethanol produced
B. Goldfish are able to survive long periods under ice cover
C. Goldfish have no tolerance to ethanol
D. Transformation of lactate to ethanol may be a means of avoiding acidosis
Question reproduced from IBO 2015, Theoretical Exam A, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 - attributed to the International Biology Olympiad. Open the full exam PDF · Community solutions (unofficial)