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Respiration

Respiration is the process that releases the energy from organic molecules (glucose) to be stored in ATP

  • ATP provides energy for all cell processes; without ATP, cells (and bodies) die.

Aerobic Respiration uses oxygen and makes the most ATP

  • Formula:  Glucose + Oxygen --> ATP + Water + Carbon Dioxide

  • Starts in the cytoplasm, but mostly occurs in the Mitochondria

  • Produces 36-38 molecules of ATP per molecule of glucose

Anaerobic Respiration does not use oxygen and cannot make nearly as much ATP

  • Formula:  Glucose --> ATP + Waste Product(s)

  • Occurs in the Cytoplasm

  • Produces 2 molecules of ATP per molecule of glucose

  • Requires Fermentation to recycle molecules involved in the process

    • Alcoholic Fermentation​

      • occurs in yeast and plants​

      • makes alcohol and carbon dioxide

    • Lactic Acid Fermentation​

      • occurs in animals and bacteria​

      • makes lactic acid

      • in humans, occurs most often in muscle cells that can't get enough oxygen for high intensity work

      • acid makes muscles feel sore afterwards

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Disclaimer:  Some details have been simplified or completely made up in order to clarify the overall concepts.

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