Cellular Respiration: Aerobic and Anaerobic Processes
Cellular respiration is the process by which cells break down glucose to produce energy in the form of ATP. There are two main types: aerobic (with oxygen) and anaerobic (without oxygen).
Key points:
- Aerobic respiration produces 38 ATP molecules per glucose molecule
- Anaerobic respiration (fermentation) produces only 2 ATP molecules
- Both processes begin with glycolysis in the cytoplasm
- Aerobic respiration continues in the mitochondria with the Krebs cycle and electron transport chain
- Anaerobic respiration occurs only in the cytoplasm and results in either lactic acid or ethanol as waste products