Question

Distinguish between glycolysis and citric acid cycle.

Answer 1

Glycolysis is a linear pathway. It occurs in the cell cytoplasm. It occurs in both aerobic as well as in anaerobic respiration. One glucose molecule breaks down to generate 2 NADH22 and 2 ATP molecules.

Citric acid cycle (Krebs cycle) is a cyclic pathway. It occurs in the mitochondrial matrix. It occurs in aerobic respiration only. It produces 15 ATP during the interconversion of one pyruvate molecule. Two pyruvate molecules are formed by one molecule of glucose so two molecules of kerb's cycle is needed to process the pyruvates. So, total 30ATP (15 *2) is produced.