Types of Cellular Respiration

Types of cellular respiration is given below:

Aerobic Respiration

• Cells produce energy through aerobic respiration in the presence of oxygen.
• Aerobic respiration consists of glycolysis, oxidative phosphorylation (electron transport chain) and the citric acid cycle (Krebs cycle).
• Glycolysis breaks down glucose into pyruvate, yielding ATP and NADH.
• Pyruvate enters the citric acid cycle, producing more FADH2, NADH, ATP, and carbon dioxide.
• Electrons from NADH and FADH2 create a proton gradient in the electron transport chain.
• Protons return to the mitochondrial matrix through ATP synthase, generating ATP.
• Aerobic respiration produces 36-38 ATP from each glucose molecule.

Also Read: Aerobic Respiration

Anaerobic Respiration

• Anaerobic respiration is less efficient in ATP production compared to aerobic respiration due to the absence of oxygen.
• It involves fermentation, yielding ATP and byproducts such as ethanol and lactic acid.
• Fermentation partially oxidizes glucose, releasing ATP and organic compounds.
• Glycolysis can proceed without oxygen through the regeneration of NAD+ from NADH.
• Anaerobic respiration also uses substitute electron acceptors like nitrate or sulfate.
• Despite potentially producing more ATP than fermentation, anaerobic respiration is generally less effective than aerobic respiration.

Also Read: Difference Between Aerobic and Anaerobic Respiration

A diagram of cellular respiration shows the process by which cells convert glucose and oxygen into energy (ATP), releasing carbon dioxide and water as byproducts. Cellular respiration is a vital metabolic process occurring in all living organisms. The process consists of several interconnected stages, including glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation.

The well-labelled diagram of cellular respiration process is given below: