Question

Explain the difference between aerobic and anaerobic respiration.

Answer 1

Aerobic respiration Anaerobic respiration Aerobic respiration refers to complete breakdown of metabolic fuels in presence of oxygen. Anaerobic respiration is the process of partial breakdown of fuel (glucose) in absence of oxygen. It includes glycolysis, citric acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation. The first two processes take place in the cytoplasm while last one occurs in mitochondria. Glycolysis is followed by ethanol fermentation (occurs in yeast) or lactic acid fermentation (in muscles and microbes like lactic acid bacteria). The end products are carbon dioxide and water. End products of ethanol fermentation are ethanol and carbon dioxide; that of lactic acid fermentation are lactic acid Owing to complete oxidation of glucose, a large amount of energy is produced (36-38 ATP molecules) Incomplete oxidation of glucose does not release all stored energy and only 2 ATP molecules are produced