Biology 11th Edition by Cecie Starr ,Ralph Taggart

Exercise 3

At high altitudes, oxygen levels are low. Mountain climbers risk altitude sickness, which is characterized by shortness of breath, weakness, dizziness, and confusion.
Oddly, early symptoms of cyanide poisoning resemble altitude sickness. This highly toxic poison binds tightly to a cytochrome, the last molecule in mitochondrial electron transfer chains. When cyanide becomes bound to it, the cytochrome cant transfer electrons to the next component of the chain. Explain why cytochrome shutdown might cause the same symptoms as altitude sickness.