Cellular Respiration Flashcards

Cellular Respiration Overview

• Cellular respiration is an aerobic process requiring oxygen.
• It occurs in both autotrophs (organisms that produce their own food) and heterotrophs (organisms that consume food).

Key Structures

• Photosynthesis occurs in chloroplasts, while cellular respiration takes place in mitochondria.

Glycolysis

• Glycolysis results in a net gain of 2 ATP.
• It requires ATP for initiation and takes place in the cytoplasm.

Krebs Cycle

• The Krebs cycle begins with pyruvic acid and produces carbon dioxide as a byproduct.

Electron Transport Chain

• Occurs in the inner mitochondrial membrane, responsible for producing the majority of ATP during cellular respiration.
• The net gain of ATP from the electron transport chain is 32, contributing to a total of 36 ATP produced in aerobic respiration.

Fermentation

• Lactic acid fermentation happens in muscle cells when oxygen is scarce, such as during intense physical activity.
• In humans, fermentation occurs when skeletal muscle cells lack oxygen.

Energy Production

• Aerobic respiration, which utilizes oxygen, forms the greatest number of ATP compared to anaerobic processes.
• The molecular products of cellular respiration include ATP, carbon dioxide, and water, where ATP is a key energy carrier.

Key Chemicals

• Essential chemicals for cellular respiration include glucose and ATP.
• Plant cells utilize oxygen primarily for aerobic respiration.

Summary of Energy Release

• In a bean plant, aerobic respiration of glucose yields the highest energy output compared to other reactions.

Overall Importance

• Understanding cellular respiration is crucial for comprehending how organisms convert food into energy and the role of various cellular structures in this process.