Question

Describe various paths of glucose breakdown in organisms.

Answer 1

Glucose:

1. For all living creatures, glucose serves as their primary source of energy.
2. The most significant carbohydrate that comes from the food we eat is glucose.
3. To give the body energy, glucose is oxidised.

Various mechanisms of the breakdown of glucose:

Aerobic respiration:

1. In the cell, the food (glucose) is broken down into carbon dioxide and water with the help of oxygen.
2. It's called aerobic respiration when glucose is broken down with the help of oxygen.
3. The cell's Mitochondria are involved in this process.

$\mathrm{Glucose}\stackrel{\mathrm{with}\mathrm{the}\mathrm{use}\mathrm{of}\mathrm{oxygen}}{\to }\mathrm{Carbondioxide}+\mathrm{Water}+\mathrm{Energy}$

Anaerobic respiration (When there is no oxygen available),

1. Yeast, for example, can survive in the absence of oxygen.
2. They're known as anaerobes.
3. Anaerobic respiration provides energy to these animals.
4. Glucose degrades into alcohol and carbon dioxide in the absence of oxygen.
5. This process takes place in the cytoplasm of the cell

$\mathrm{Glucose}\stackrel{\mathrm{without}\mathrm{the}\mathrm{use}\mathrm{of}\mathrm{oxygen}}{\to }\mathrm{Alcohol}+\hspace{0.17em}\mathrm{Carbondioxide}+\mathrm{Energy}$

Anaerobic respiration (In the insufficient presence of oxygen):

1. Our muscle cells can also breathe anaerobically, but only for a short period of time when there is a momentary oxygen shortage during vigorous exercise, walking, heavy weight lifting, and other physical activity.
2. To meet the energy demand, this mechanism occurs in the muscle cells.

$\mathrm{Glucose}\stackrel{\mathrm{in}\mathrm{the}\mathrm{absence}\mathrm{of}\mathrm{oxygen}}{\to }\mathrm{Lactic}\mathrm{acid}+\mathrm{Energy}$