How does temperature affect cellular respiration?

Higher temperatures can increase the rate of cellular respiration up to a certain optimal point because enzymes, which are crucial for catalyzing the reactions in cellular respiration, function more efficiently at elevated temperatures within a specific range. As temperature rises, the kinetic energy of molecules increases, leading to more frequent and effective collisions between enzymes and substrates, thus accelerating metabolic reactions.

However, this increase continues only up to an optimal temperature. Beyond this point, if the temperature continues to rise, enzymes can denature, losing their specific structure and functionality, which ultimately leads to a decrease in the rate of cellular respiration. Therefore, there's a critical balance where increased temperature enhances metabolic processes, but excessive heat can be detrimental, making the understanding of this relationship essential in the study of cellular respiration.