117k views
3 votes
What is the waste product of glycolysis in the absence of oxygen?

2 Answers

5 votes

Answer:

Through much of the history of metabolism, lactate (La−) has been considered merely a dead-end waste product during periods of dysoxia. Congruently, the end product of glycolysis has been viewed dichotomously: pyruvate in the presence of adequate oxygenation, La− in the absence of adequate oxygenation.

Step-by-step explanation:

User Sia
by
7.5k points
4 votes

Final answer:

In the absence of oxygen, the waste product of glycolysis is either lactate during lactic acid fermentation or ethanol and carbon dioxide during alcoholic fermentation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The waste product of glycolysis in the absence of oxygen is typically lactic acid during lactic acid fermentation, or ethanol and carbon dioxide during alcoholic fermentation. Fermentation allows cells to regenerate NAD+ which is essential for glycolysis to continue in the absence of oxygen. Therefore, the options given, the correct end product of glycolysis under anaerobic conditions (in absence of oxygen) would be lactate, as it is the molecule that is used to regenerate NAD+ from the reduction of pyruvate.

User Gagarwal
by
7.5k points