Hamsters Love to Run on Exercise Wheels

question 38

Multiple Choice

Hamsters love to run on exercise wheels. Prolonged running at a high rate of speed requires ATP. Could a hamster with a defective gene for the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase meet the extra ATP demand for prolonged, fast wheel-running by maintaining a high rate of glycolysis? Why or why not?

• A) No, not enough NAD⁺ can be regenerated for glycolysis to continue at a high rate.
• B) No, the defective gene will cause a rapid decline in pH in the muscles used for running.
• C) Yes, the defective enzyme has no effect on the glycolytic pathway.
• D) Yes, the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase will supply the needed NAD⁺ if the lactose dehydrogenase cannot.

---

Definitions:

Smooth Muscle

A type of muscle found in the walls of internal organs and blood vessels, which is not under conscious control.

Cardiac Muscle

Specialized muscle tissue found only in the heart, characterized by involuntary control and the presence of intercalated discs for synchronized contraction.

Striated

Striped; marked by stripes or bands.

Spontaneous Contraction

Involuntary and automatic contraction of muscles, often referring to the muscles in various organs such as the heart.