Question

What do the two types of fermentation have in common?

O both require oxygen as a reactant
O both directly produce ATP for the cell to use
O both produce carbon dioxide gas
O both generate NAD+ to keep glycolysis running

Answer 1

Both lactic acid fermentation and alcoholic fermentation regenerate NAD+ to keep glycolysis running, which is essential for continued ATP production via this anaerobic pathway.

Step-by-step explanation:

The two types of fermentation, lactic acid fermentation and alcoholic fermentation, have several characteristics in common. Both processes begin with glycolysis, an anaerobic pathway that does not require oxygen. During glycolysis, a small amount of ATP is produced, specifically 2 net ATP per molecule of glucose. The main commonality between both types of fermentation is that they regenerate NAD+ from NADH, which is crucial for allowing glycolysis to continue and for the cell to keep producing ATP. This regeneration of NAD+ is essential because it feeds back into glycolysis, maintaining the supply of NAD+ required for the sixth step in the pathway.

While both types of fermentation produce some byproducts, such as ethanol, carbon dioxide, and lactic acid, only the generation of NAD+ is a common feature necessary for glycolysis to proceed. Other components, like oxygen, carbon dioxide production or the direct production of ATP beyond what is created during glycolysis, are not common to both types of fermentation.