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The University of the West Indies Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences |
BL 05B - Preliminary Biology II |
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The University of the West Indies Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences |
BL 05B - Preliminary Biology II |
Anaerobic Glycolysis
The bulk of energy from respiration comes from the transfer of hydrogen atoms. For this to happen, oxygen must be available to accept the hydrogen atoms from the final carrier. Then this happens, this is
aerobic respiration.Some organisms and tissues derive energy from breaking down sugar in the complete absence of oxygen, a process known as
anaerobic respiration. For example, yeasts can respire anaerobically as can vertebrate skeletal muscle during heavy activity when oxygen cannot be delivered to the muscles fast enough to meet their needs.The main difference between aerobic and anaerobic respiration is that in the latter, the sugar is only partially broken down. Instead of being converted completely to carbon dioxide and water, it is converted to
ethyl alcohol (in plants) or to lactic acid in animals.In animals, the lactic acid has to be removed from muscle cells. It is transported to the liver and reconverted to glucose.
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Lyndon Waterman
See also:
Additional Information on Nutrition
Last modified: February 15, 2008