Respiration is an important process in the human body. In your biology class, you’ll come across two types of respiration. Here are the main differences between aerobic and anaerobic respiration to help you learn about the two prime processes.
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Aerobic
The first type of respiration is aerobic respiration. It is a chain of reactions catalyzed by enzymes. In this respiration process, the transfer of electrons takes place from the molecules acting as the source of fuel like glucose to oxygen, acting as the final electron acceptor. As a result of end-products, we get ATP and metabolic intermediates, also working as a precursor for other pathways in the cell-like carbohydrates, lipid, and protein synthesis.
Example:-
Respiration in humans
Anaerobic
Anaerobic respiration involves oxygen during the conversion of given resources such as glucose into energy. Due to bacteria’s presence, the utilization of oxygen-containing salts is replaced by free oxygen as the electron acceptor. The energy used in the process is useful when high energy is demanded by the tissues when the oxygen produced by aerobic respiration shortens.
Example:-
Lactic acid production in muscles
Aerobic vs. Anaerobic Respiration
Here are major differences you should know about aerobic and anaerobic respiration.
Aerobic
- It is a set of metabolic reactions that take place in the presence of oxygen.
- It takes place in all living beings, except some prokaryotes.
- Aerobic respiration takes place in the presence of oxygen.
- The exchange of gases takes place.
- The two by-products of aerobic respiration are Carbon Dioxide and Water.
- 38 ATPs are produced during aerobic respiration.
- Complete oxidation of carbohydrates takes place.
- Equation: C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy
Anaerobic
- It is a process of cellular respiration, where electron acceptor is neither oxygen nor pyruvate derivatives.
- It takes place in many environments like freshwater, soil, deep-sea surfaces.
- Anaerobic respiration takes place in a low oxygen environment.
- The exchange of gases doesnt take place.
- The end products of anaerobic respiration are acids, alcohols, gases, and energy.
- 2 ATP are produced during anaerobic respiration.
- Incomplete oxidation of carbohydrates takes place.
- Equation: C6H12O6 → C2H5OH + CO2 + energy
Stages in Aerobic and Anaerobic Respiration
The stages used in both aerobic and anaerobic respiration are similar.
#1 Glycolysis
It is a series of reactions that extracts energy from glucose by splitting it into two 3-carbon molecules called pyruvates. The two main phases of Glycolysis are:-
- Energy-requiring phase
- Energy-releasing phase
#2 Krebs Cycle
The Krebs cycle is an important phase of biochemistry that involves a series of enzyme-catalyzed reactions that reduce the acetyl portion of acetyl coenzyme A in the mitochondrial matrix.
#3 Electron Transport Chain
The 3rd stage is the process that begins with moving electrons through a series of electron transporters that undergo redox reactions.
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