Define aerobic and anaerobic respiration?
Answers
- Aerobic respiration:
It occurs in the presence of oxygen in most animals and plant, yielding very high energy.
In aerobic respiration, the glucose is completely broken down into carbon dioxide and water by oxidation. It produces considerable amount of energy for use by the organism.
- Anaerobic respiration:
It occurs in the absence of oxygen. Food substances like glucose are not completely oxidised liberating less energy in tissue cells.
It occurs in bacteria, yeast, fungi and internal animal parasites, etc.
Explanation:
Aerobic respiration
Mammals and birds need energy to maintain a constant body temperature. Energy is also needed for the following life processes:
growth
cell division
muscle contraction
protein synthesis
active transport
nerve impulses
Respiration involves chemical reactions that break down nutrient molecules in living cells to release energy.
Aerobic respiration needs oxygen. It is the release of a relatively large amount of energy in cells by the breakdown of food substances in the presence of oxygen:
glucose + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water
C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O
Aerobic respiration happens all the time in animals and plants. Note that respiration is different to breathing (ventilation). Most of the reactions in aerobic respiration happen inside mitochondria in cells.