I. Anaerobic respiration- respiration without the use of oxygen, its only a partial breakdown of glucose

A. Anaerobes - organisms that only use anaerobic respiration to obtain their energy - yeast
           a. Mechanism

1. Glycolysis- splitting of glucose (occurs as the first step in both anaerobic and aerobic respiration)

a) requires 2 ATP as activation energy
b) produces 2 molecules of pyruvic acid for every molecule of glucose
c) produces 4 ATPs - a net gain of 2 ATPs

2. Anaerobic respiration - alcohol fermentation

a) pyruvic acid is converted to ethyl alcohol and carbon dioxide (CO2)

b) no ATP produced in this step

c) C6H12O6 --------> 2 C2H5OH + 2 CO2 + 2 ATP

3. Anaerobic Respiration - lactic acid fermentation

     a) pyruvic acid is converted to lactic acid

     b) no ATP produced in this step

 

II. Aerobic respiration - respiration with the use of oxygen

A. Complete breakdown of glucose to carbon dioxide and water with the release of 36 ATP

B. Mechanism

1. Glycolysis- net gain of 2 ATP (occurs in the cytoplasm)

2. Kreb Cycle- pyruvic acid is broken down into carbon dioxide and water and 2 ATP

a) since there are 2 pyruvic acid produced from glycolysis, 2 turns in the Kreb Cycle are needed - 1 ATP is created with each turn of the cycle

3) Electron Transport Chain - a series of oxidation-reduction reactions in which electrons are transferred from one compound to another

a) 32 ATP are produced

Interactive Quizzes on Cell Membrane & Respiration

Biology Trivia
1. Why do my muscles burn when I'm exercising? answer

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