Final answer:
The final metabolite produced by glycolysis is pyruvate. Pyruvate can then be used in the Krebs cycle or be converted into lactate during fermentation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The final metabolite produced by glycolysis is pyruvate. During glycolysis, glucose is broken down into two molecules of pyruvate. This is a crucial step in cellular respiration, as pyruvate can then enter the mitochondria to be further processed during the Krebs cycle, if oxygen is available. In the absence of oxygen, pyruvate may be converted into lactate in a process known as fermentation. The conversion of pyruvate into acetyl CoA is a subsequent step that is not part of glycolysis but rather the link reaction taking place in the mitochondria, providing entry into the Krebs cycle. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is (b) pyruvate.