What type of respiration occurs when oxygen is in short supply?
Question
What type of respiration occurs when oxygen is in short supply?
Solution
When oxygen is in short supply, the type of respiration that occurs is called anaerobic respiration. Here are the steps:
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Glycolysis: This is the first step of both aerobic and anaerobic respiration. It occurs in the cytoplasm of the cell. In this process, one glucose molecule (which has 6 carbons) is broken down into two molecules of pyruvate (each with 3 carbons). This process produces a net gain of 2 ATP molecules.
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If oxygen is not available, the pyruvate molecules undergo fermentation. There are two types of fermentation:
a. Lactic Acid Fermentation: This occurs in muscle cells when they are deprived of oxygen. The pyruvate is converted into lactic acid. No additional ATP is produced in this process.
b. Alcoholic Fermentation: This occurs in yeast and some bacteria. The pyruvate is converted into ethanol and carbon dioxide. No additional ATP is produced in this process.
So, in short, when oxygen is in short supply, glucose is broken down into either lactic acid or ethanol and carbon dioxide, with a net production of 2 ATP molecules. This is less efficient than aerobic respiration, which produces a net gain of 36 ATP molecules per glucose molecule.
Similar Questions
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