Question

Which of the following steps or processes in aerobic respiration include the

production of carbon dioxide?_____
(a) breakdown of glycogen
(b) glycolysis
(c) conversion of pyruvate to acetyl CoA
(d) oxidative phosphorylation

Answer 1

Carbon dioxide is produced during the conversion of pyruvate to acetyl CoA and in the Krebs cycle of aerobic respiration. Glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation do not directly result in CO2 production.

Step-by-step explanation:

In aerobic respiration, carbon dioxide (CO2) is produced during the conversion of pyruvate to acetyl CoA and during the Krebs cycle. Specifically, CO2 is released in two key processes:

• The conversion of pyruvate to acetyl CoA: This is when pyruvate, which is generated from glycolysis, is transformed into acetyl CoA. During this conversion, a molecule of CO2 is released as a waste product.
• The Krebs cycle (also known as the Citric Acid Cycle or Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle): This is a series of enzymatic reactions that take place in the mitochondria, where acetyl CoA is fully oxidized. Through a series of steps, several molecules of CO2 are produced and released as the cycle progresses.

Though glycolysis is the first step in the complete oxidation of glucose, it does not itself produce CO2. The process starts in the cytoplasm, breaking down glucose into pyruvate. The resulting pyruvate is then transported into the mitochondria for further oxidation. Oxidative phosphorylation, which involves the electron transport chain and chemiosmosis, is used to generate ATP but does not produce CO2 directly.