Cellular respiration - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

# Cellular respiration

### From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A diagram showing the steps of cellular respiration. Click the picture to make it bigger.

Cellular respiration is the breaking-down of sugars into usable energy. This occurs in plants as well as animals. All cells use cellular respiration to create ATP to be used as energy. The formula for cellular respiration is C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + Energy.

## [edit] Short summary of Cellular Respiration

In Glycolysis, the cell breaks down a CH2O (carbohydrate) molecule into two carbon pyruvates and produces two molecules of ATP. Depending on the oxygen level in the area, the pyruvates may go to one of two processes. If there is not oxygen in the area (anaerobic respiration), then the pyruvate is fermented into either lactic acid (animals) or ethyl alcohol in plants. In ethyl alcohol fermentation, a CO2 molecule is released into the atmosphere. However, if there is oxygen in the area (areobic respiration), then the pyruvates undergo a process known as oxidative decarboxylation. Here, the pyruvates are prepared to enter the carbon-fixing cycle, also known as the Krebs cycle. In the Krebs cycle, carbon atoms are re-assigned to carbon sugars, which are used to create sugars that the cell can use. After the Krebs cycle is complete, the electron transport chain is activated, which can produce up to 34 ATP molecules. In all, Cellular respiration can create up to 38 molecules of ATP.

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Category: Biochemistry

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