Question

Explain the ways in which Glucose is broken down in absence of Oxygen??

Answer 1

Hey there!

There are two ways of Anaerobic breakdown of glucose: 

First step is breakdown of glucose molecule into pyruvate which takes place in cytoplasm.

The anaerobic breakdown in bacteria is called fermentation. During fermentation pyruvate is broken down to ethyl alcohol and carbondioxide.

When there is lack of oxygen in our muscle cells pyruvate is broken down tolactic acid. Very less amount of energy is released in both the above cases.

HOPE IT HELPS ^_^

Answer 2

it can be broken down in the absence of oxygen by lactic acid which is also a 3 carbon molecule. sudden build up of lactic acid in our muscle leads to cramps. hope it help