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What is Cellular Respiration? Simple Guide with Diagrams and Equations

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T

Timi Olanrewaju

20/10/2022

Biology

BIOLOGY 1.6 - Respiration

What is Cellular Respiration? Simple Guide with Diagrams and Equations

Cellular respiration is a vital process in living organisms that converts food into energy. This process occurs in all cells and involves the breakdown of glucose to produce ATP, the primary energy currency of cells. There are two main types of cellular respiration: aerobic and anaerobic.

Key points:

  • Respiration releases energy from food through enzyme-controlled reactions
  • ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) is the main energy storage molecule in cells
  • Aerobic respiration requires oxygen and produces more ATP
  • Anaerobic respiration (fermentation) occurs without oxygen and produces less ATP
  • The process differs slightly in animal and plant/yeast cells during anaerobic conditions
...

20/10/2022

177

Respiration
The cellular process of releasing energy from food through a series of
enzyme-controlled reactions is called respiration. Respir

View

First Stage of Aerobic Respiration: Glycolysis

The first stage of aerobic respiration, known as glycolysis, occurs in the cell's cytoplasm and does not require oxygen. During this stage, a glucose molecule is broken down into two pyruvate molecules through a series of enzyme-controlled reactions.

Definition: Glycolysis is the first stage of cellular respiration where glucose is split into two pyruvate molecules.

The process of glycolysis can be summarized as follows:

  1. One glucose molecule enters the glycolysis pathway
  2. Enzyme-controlled reactions break down glucose
  3. Two pyruvate molecules are produced
  4. Two ATP molecules are generated

Highlight: Although glycolysis only produces two ATP molecules, it is a crucial step in the cellular respiration process.

It's important to note that this first stage is common to both aerobic respiration and fermentation anaerobicrespirationanaerobic respiration. The key difference lies in what happens to the pyruvate molecules in the subsequent stages.

Example: In a sprinter's muscles during a 100-meter dash, glycolysis provides quick energy even before oxygen can be fully utilized.

Respiration
The cellular process of releasing energy from food through a series of
enzyme-controlled reactions is called respiration. Respir

View

Second Stage of Aerobic Respiration and Fermentation

The second stage of aerobic respiration occurs in the mitochondria and requires oxygen. This is where the majority of ATP is produced during cellular respiration.

In this stage:

  1. The pyruvate molecules from glycolysis enter the mitochondria
  2. Pyruvate is broken down into carbon dioxide and water
  3. A large number of ATP molecules are generated

Highlight: The second stage of aerobic respiration produces significantly more ATP than glycolysis alone.

Fermentation, or anaerobic respiration, occurs when oxygen is absent. The first stage glycolysisglycolysis is the same as in aerobic respiration, but the fate of pyruvate differs:

In animal cells:

  • Pyruvate is converted to lactate in the cytoplasm
  • The process is reversible
  • Lactate buildup leads to muscle fatigue

Vocabulary: Oxygen debt refers to the extra oxygen needed to convert lactate back to pyruvate during recovery.

In plant and yeast cells:

  • Pyruvate is converted to ethanol and carbon dioxide
  • The process is irreversible due to the release of carbon dioxide gas

Example: When a runner recovers after a marathon, they are taking in extra oxygen to convert the lactate produced during the race back into pyruvate.

The key differences between aerobic and anaerobic respiration include:

  1. Oxygen requirement
  2. Location within the cell
  3. End products
  4. Amount of ATP produced
  5. Occurrence in different organisms

Highlight: Aerobic respiration yields many more ATP molecules than fermentation, making it a more efficient energy production process.

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Biology

177

20 Oct 2022

3 pages

What is Cellular Respiration? Simple Guide with Diagrams and Equations

T

Timi Olanrewaju

@timiolanrewaju_

Cellular respiration is a vital process in living organisms that converts food into energy. This process occurs in all cells and involves the breakdown of glucose to produce ATP, the primary energy currency of cells. There are two main types... Show more

Respiration
The cellular process of releasing energy from food through a series of
enzyme-controlled reactions is called respiration. Respir

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First Stage of Aerobic Respiration: Glycolysis

The first stage of aerobic respiration, known as glycolysis, occurs in the cell's cytoplasm and does not require oxygen. During this stage, a glucose molecule is broken down into two pyruvate molecules through a series of enzyme-controlled reactions.

Definition: Glycolysis is the first stage of cellular respiration where glucose is split into two pyruvate molecules.

The process of glycolysis can be summarized as follows:

  1. One glucose molecule enters the glycolysis pathway
  2. Enzyme-controlled reactions break down glucose
  3. Two pyruvate molecules are produced
  4. Two ATP molecules are generated

Highlight: Although glycolysis only produces two ATP molecules, it is a crucial step in the cellular respiration process.

It's important to note that this first stage is common to both aerobic respiration and fermentation anaerobicrespirationanaerobic respiration. The key difference lies in what happens to the pyruvate molecules in the subsequent stages.

Example: In a sprinter's muscles during a 100-meter dash, glycolysis provides quick energy even before oxygen can be fully utilized.

Respiration
The cellular process of releasing energy from food through a series of
enzyme-controlled reactions is called respiration. Respir

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Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Second Stage of Aerobic Respiration and Fermentation

The second stage of aerobic respiration occurs in the mitochondria and requires oxygen. This is where the majority of ATP is produced during cellular respiration.

In this stage:

  1. The pyruvate molecules from glycolysis enter the mitochondria
  2. Pyruvate is broken down into carbon dioxide and water
  3. A large number of ATP molecules are generated

Highlight: The second stage of aerobic respiration produces significantly more ATP than glycolysis alone.

Fermentation, or anaerobic respiration, occurs when oxygen is absent. The first stage glycolysisglycolysis is the same as in aerobic respiration, but the fate of pyruvate differs:

In animal cells:

  • Pyruvate is converted to lactate in the cytoplasm
  • The process is reversible
  • Lactate buildup leads to muscle fatigue

Vocabulary: Oxygen debt refers to the extra oxygen needed to convert lactate back to pyruvate during recovery.

In plant and yeast cells:

  • Pyruvate is converted to ethanol and carbon dioxide
  • The process is irreversible due to the release of carbon dioxide gas

Example: When a runner recovers after a marathon, they are taking in extra oxygen to convert the lactate produced during the race back into pyruvate.

The key differences between aerobic and anaerobic respiration include:

  1. Oxygen requirement
  2. Location within the cell
  3. End products
  4. Amount of ATP produced
  5. Occurrence in different organisms

Highlight: Aerobic respiration yields many more ATP molecules than fermentation, making it a more efficient energy production process.

Respiration
The cellular process of releasing energy from food through a series of
enzyme-controlled reactions is called respiration. Respir

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Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Cellular Respiration and ATP Production

Cellular respiration is the process by which cells release energy from food through a series of enzyme-controlled reactions. This process occurs in all living cells and is crucial for sustaining life. The primary purpose of cellular respiration is to generate ATP AdenosineTriphosphateAdenosine Triphosphate, which serves as the main energy currency in cells.

Definition: Cellular respiration is the process of breaking down glucose to release energy for cellular activities.

ATP is composed of one adenosine molecule and three phosphate groups. It stores chemical energy that can be quickly released when needed by breaking the bond between the second and third phosphate groups.

Vocabulary: ATP stands for Adenosine Triphosphate, a high-energy molecule used by cells to store and transfer energy.

The energy released from ATP breakdown is used for various cellular functions, including:

  • Cell division
  • Protein synthesis
  • Active transport
  • Muscle cell contraction
  • Transmission of nerve impulses

Highlight: The breakdown of ATP releases energy, while its regeneration requires energy input.

The cellular respiration equation for aerobic respiration can be summarized as:

glucose + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water + energy

This process primarily takes place in the mitochondria of cells, which is why these organelles are often referred to as the "powerhouses" of the cell.

Example: A muscle cell, which requires a lot of energy to contract, will have more mitochondria than a skin cell due to its higher energy demands.

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