Question

Write the difference between aerobic and anaerobic respiration.

Answer 1

Hint: Cellular respiration is the intracellular oxidation of nutrients and fuel molecules to release their bond energy for biological functions. Respiration is of two major kinds, anaerobic and aerobic. Anaerobic respiration is also called anaerobic metabolism or fermentation. All biological functions require energy. The energy is obtained in the form of ATP from cellular respiration or biological oxidation.

Complete step by step answer:
Anaerobic respiration is the partial oxidation of fuel molecules in the absence of molecular oxygen. It releases only a small portion of the energy store of fuel molecules. In anaerobic oxidation of glucose, only 20-30% of the energy store is released. Anaerobic respiration is common among yeasts, some bacteria, and several endoparasites. Aerobic respiration is the complete cellular oxidation of organic molecules, utilizing molecular oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide. So, during it, oxygen is taken from the environment and delivered to the cells. In return, carbon dioxide is released to the environment. It liberates the entire store of energy from fuel molecules. The center of aerobic respiration in eukaryotes is mitochondria. But in prokaryotes, they are located in the plasma membrane. Even in aerobic animals, anaerobic respiration occurs in some cells and tissues. For example, lactic acid fermentation occurs in the skeletal muscles of vertebrates.

Additional Information:
- The molecules or compounds, oxidized during respiration, are called respiratory substrates, e.g., sugars, fatty acids, organic acids, etc. Their energy store is released slowly in several steps through a chain of enzymatic reactions.
- The energy, released during cellular oxidation, is conserved in a biologically available form in the energy bonds of ATP molecules.
- So, during cellular respiration, ATP is synthesized and energy is conserved for later use.
- This is effected through the formation of energy bonds. The energy bonds of ATP molecules are finally broken down and active kinetic energy is made available for biological processes.

Note:
- Anaerobic respiration also occurs in skeletal muscles, mature mammalian erythrocytes, and cytoplasm of all cells.
- Yeast derives energy by the fermentation of glucose to ethyl alcohol and bacteria by the fermentation of glucose and lactose to lactic acid. Lactic acid fermentation occurs in endoparasites and the skeletal muscles of vertebrates also.
- Aerobic respiration is completed in two broad phases, namely external respiration internal respiration, or cellular respiration.