Question

Give an account of glycolysis. Where does it occur? What are the end products? Trace the fate of these products in both aerobic and anaerobic respiration.

Answer 1

The process by which the glucose (6C compound) is split into two molecules of pyruvic acid (3C compound) is called glycolysis or EMP pathway. The glucose is broken down anaerobically to form pyruvic acid. The pyruvic acid enters the Krebs cycle. Glycolysis occurs in the cytoplasm of the cell.

The pyruvic acid is the end product of this process. There are two molecules of pyruvic acid formed at the end of this pathway. There are two fates of the pyruvic acid. During the aerobic respiration, the molecule enters the Krebs cycle and the electron transport chain. There are 38 ATP molecules formed from the aerobic respiration. During the anaerobic respiration, the molecule is broken down to form lactic acid or alcohol. There are 2 ATP molecules produced in this process.