Glucose is a primary source of energy for many organisms, and it can be oxidized through different metabolic pathways to release energy. The main pathways for the oxidation of glucoseThe oxidation of glucose is a metabolic process where glucose, a simple sugar, is broken down to produce energy. This process involves the removal of electrons from glucose, typically in the presence of oxygen, resulting in the production of carbon dioxide, water, and adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the cell’s energy currency. in various organisms include:

Aerobic Respiration

This is the most efficient way of oxidizing glucose, used by many eukaryotic organismsEukaryotic organisms are complex cells or organisms with cells that contain a nucleus enclosed within membranes. Unlike prokaryotes, eukaryotes have well-organized cells with distinct organelles, such as mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum. This group includes animals, plants, fungi, and protists, showcasing a vast diversity in form and function., including humans.

It occurs in the presence of oxygen and involves three main stages: glycolysis (in the cytoplasm), the Krebs cycle (in the mitochondria), and oxidative phosphorylation (across the mitochondrial membrane).
Aerobic respiration converts one molecule of glucose into approximately 36-38 molecules of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the energy currency of the cell.

Anaerobic Respiration

Anaerobic respiration occurs in the absence of oxygen. It is less efficient than aerobic respiration, producing only a fraction of the ATP that aerobic respiration does.
It also starts with glycolysis, but the pyruvate produced is then converted into different end products depending on the organism.
In some microorganisms, like certain bacteria, this can involve the reduction of substances other than oxygen, such as sulfate or nitrate, in a process known as anaerobic respiration or fermentation.

Fermentation

A special type of anaerobic respiration, fermentation is used by many bacteria, yeasts, and some muscle cells in animals when oxygen is scarce.

There are two main types of fermentation:
Alcoholic Fermentation: Used by yeasts and some types of bacteria, converting glucose into ethanol, carbon dioxide, and a small amount of ATP.
Lactic Acid Fermentation: Occurs in some bacteria and animal cells (like muscle cells during intense exercise), where pyruvate is reduced to lactic acid, producing a small amount of ATP.

Glycolysis

Although not a complete oxidation of glucose, glycolysis is a critical initial step in both aerobic and anaerobic pathways.
It breaks down glucose into two molecules of pyruvate, with a net production of two ATP molecules and two NADH molecules.

Pentose Phosphate Pathway

This is an alternative pathway to glycolysis, primarily for the generation of NADPH and the synthesis of ribose-5-phosphate (a precursor for the synthesis of nucleotides).
While it does not produce ATP directly, it plays a role in cellular processes that require reducing power (from NADPH) and is important in certain tissues and organisms.

The pathway chosen for the oxidation of glucose largely depends on the organism’s type, its cellular structures, and the availability of oxygen. Aerobic respiration is preferred when oxygen is available due to its high energy yield, while anaerobic pathways are utilized in low-oxygen environments or by organisms that lack the complex cellular machinery for aerobic respiration.

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List of Questions of Class 10 Science Chapter 5

Why is diffusion insufficient to meet the oxygen requirements of multicellular organisms like humans?
What criteria do we use to decide whether something is alive?
What are outside raw materials used for by an organism?
What processes would you consider essential for maintaining life?
What are the differences between autotrophic nutrition and heterotrophic nutrition?
Where do plants get each of the raw materials required for photosynthesis?
What is the role of the acid in our stomach?
What is the function of digestive enzymes?
How is the small intestine designed to absorb digested food?
What advantage over an aquatic organism does a terrestrial organism have with regard to obtaining oxygen for respiration?
What are the different ways in which glucose is oxidised to provide energy in various organisms?
How is oxygen and carbon dioxide transported in human beings?
How are the lungs designed in human beings to maximise the area for exchange of gases?
What are the components of the transport system in human beings?
Why is it necessary to separate oxygenated and deoxygenated blood in mammals and birds?
What are the components of the transport system in highly organised plants?
How are water and minerals transported in plants?
How is food transported in plants?
Describe the structure and functioning of nephrons.
What are the methods used by plants to get rid of excretory products?
How is the amount of urine produced regulated?
How are fats digested in our bodies? Where does this process take place?
What is the role of saliva in the digestion of food?
What are the necessary conditions for autotrophic nutrition and what are its byproducts?
What are the differences between aerobic and anaerobic respiration?
How are the alveoli designed to maximise the exchange of gases?
What would be the consequences of a deficiency of haemoglobin in our bodies?
Describe double circulation of blood in human beings. Why is it necessary?
What are the differences between the transport of materials in xylem and phloem?
Compare the functioning of alveoli in the lungs and nephrons in the kidneys with respect to their structure and functioning.

Last Edited: November 16, 2023