aerobic respiration
process that requires oxygen and creates the most ATP
Aerobic respiration is the process by which cells produce energy in the presence of oxygen. It is a three-step process that includes glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, and the electron transport chain.
1. Glycolysis: This is the first step in aerobic respiration and it occurs in the cytoplasm. During glycolysis, glucose molecules are broken down into two pyruvic acid molecules, which produce a small amount of ATP and NADH.
2. Krebs cycle: This occurs in the mitochondria and is also known as the citric acid cycle. During this stage, the pyruvic acid molecules are further broken down into carbon dioxide and water, which produce additional ATP and NADH.
3. Electron transport chain: This is the final stage of aerobic respiration and it occurs in the inner membranes of the mitochondria. During this stage, the NADH and FADH2 produced in the previous stages donate electrons to a chain of proteins called the electron transport chain. The flow of electrons through the chain drives the production of ATP.
Overall, aerobic respiration is an efficient way for cells to produce energy because it produces a large amount of ATP (up to 36 ATP molecules per glucose molecule). However, it requires oxygen as the final electron acceptor, and if oxygen is not present, the cell must use an alternative pathway such as anaerobic respiration or fermentation.
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