Question

What is aerobic and anaerobic respiration? Describe the breakdown of glucose molecules by various pathways.

Answer 1

Hint: The metabolic process which converts the chemical energy into ATP to sustain the necessary biological process is called cellular respiration. Cellular respiration is a catabolic reaction that involves the breakdown of larger molecules into smaller molecules.

Complete answer:
There are two types of respiration occur, named Aerobic respiration and Anaerobic respiration.
- Aerobic respiration: The cellular respiration which involves the presence of oxygen and produces energy from the food is called aerobic respiration. At the end of the aerobic respiration water and carbon dioxide are produced as the end product.
- Anaerobic respiration: The process in which glucose is broken down to obtain ATP in absence of oxygen is called anaerobic respiration. In this process, electron acceptors are used instead of molecular oxygen to produce energy.

Break down of glucose molecule by various pathway:
- Within the cytoplasm, glucose is broken down into and hydrogen ion by the process is called glycolysis. This process releases ATP reduced NIcotinamide adenine triphosphate (NADH).
- When Pyruvate enters into the mitochondria, it is converted into water and carbon dioxide and energy (ATP) is released.
- When pyruvate enters the muscle cells, it is converted into lactic acid and ATP is released.
- Within the yeast cell, in absence of oxygen pyruvate converts into ethanol and carbon dioxide. This process also involves the release of ATP.

Note: Aerobic respiration possesses four stages, named glycolysis, oxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate, citric acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation. Anaerobic respiration occurs in the fermentation of yeast. There are two types of anaerobic respiration occurring, named alcoholic fermentation and lactic acid fermentation.