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Biology LibreTexts

13.1: Introduction

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Aerobic respiration is a fundamental process in biology that plays a crucial role in energy production for living organisms. Aerobic respiration is the most efficient method of breaking down glucose to generate ATP, the energy currency of cells. This process occurs in the mitochondria of eukaryotic cells and involves three main stages: glycolysis, oxidation of pyruvate/the citric acid cycle (Krebs cycle), and oxidative phosphorylation. By utilizing oxygen as the final electron acceptor, aerobic respiration can produce up to 38 ATP molecules per glucose molecule, significantly more than anaerobic processes. This high energy yield enables complex multicellular organisms, including humans, to carry out various cellular functions and maintain homeostasis. Moreover, aerobic respiration is interconnected with other metabolic pathways and plays a vital role in the carbon cycle, making it a cornerstone concept in understanding both cellular and ecological processes.


13.1: Introduction is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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