Final answer:
Cells harvest energy from sugars through a stepwise oxidation process involving glycolysis and aerobic respiration.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cells harvest energy from sugars through a stepwise oxidation process. The first step in this process is glycolysis, which breaks down glucose into pyruvate molecules. This step is anaerobic and takes place in the cytoplasm of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. If there is enough oxygen present, the pyruvate molecules can be further oxidized through aerobic respiration in the mitochondria, leading to the production of ATP.