Question 80
Explain the three pathways of the breakdown in living organisms.

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Solution

The breakdown of pyruvic acid takes place in mitochondria and the molecules formed depend on the type of respiration in a particular organism. Respiration is of two types, viz. aerobic respiration and anaerobic respiration.

a) Aerobic Respiration: This type of respiration happens in the presence of oxygen. Pyruvic acid is converted into carbon dioxide. Energy is released and the water molecule is also formed at the end of this process.

b) Anaerobic Respiration: This type of respiration happens in the absence of oxygen. Pyruvic acid is either converted into ethyl alcohol or lactic acid. Ethyl alcohol is usually formed in case of anaerobic respiration in microbes like yeast or bacteria. Lactic acid is formed in some microbes as well as in the muscle cells.

$G l u c o s e (6 - c a r b o n m o l e c u l e) I n c y t o p l a s m - ------- \to P y r u v a t e (3 - c a r b o n m o l e c u l e) + E n e r g y$
$P y r u v a t e I n y e a s t (l a c k o f o x y g e n) - -------------- \to E t h y l a l c o h o l + c a r b o n d i o x i d e + E n e r g y$
$P y r u v a t e I n m u s c l e s (l a c k o f o x y g e n) - --------------- \to L a c t i c a c i d + E n e r g y$
$P y r u v a t e I n m i t o c h o n d r i a (p r e s e n c e o f o x y g e n) - ---------------------- \to C a r b o n d i o x i d e + W a t e r + E n e r g y$

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Question 80 Explain the three pathways of the breakdown in living organisms.

Question 80
Explain the three pathways of the breakdown in living organisms.