Question

What are the different ways in which glucose is oxidized to provide energy in various organisms?

Solution:


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Answer 1

Different ways in which glucose breaks down

Following are the different ways in which the breakdown of glucose takes place

Anaerobic Respiration

The anaerobic respiration process takes place in the absence of oxygen. For example: In yeast during fermentation. In this process, the pyruvate is converted into ethanol and carbon dioxide.

Aerobic Respiration

In aerobic respiration, breakdown of pyruvate takes place in the presence of oxygen to give rise to 3 molecules of carbon dioxide and water. The release of energy in aerobic respiration is much more than anaerobic respiration.

Lack of Oxygen

At times when there is a lack of oxygen in our body, mainly during vigorous activity, in our muscles, pyruvate is converted into lactic acid which is a 3 carbon molecule compound. The formation of lactic acid in muscles causes cramp.