Final answer:
The statement is true; glycolysis does require the input of 2 ATP molecules to initiate the breakdown of glucose into pyruvate, resulting in a net gain of two ATP molecules by the end of the process.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that glycolysis requires the input of 2 ATP molecules so that the reaction can begin is TRUE. Glycolysis is a metabolic pathway that converts glucose into pyruvate, and in the process produces ATP, which is a form of cellular energy. This can be categorized into two phases: the energy-consuming phase and the energy-yielding phase.
During the initial phase of glycolysis, two ATP molecules are consumed for the phosphorylation of glucose. This investment is necessary to begin the breakdown of glucose. The reaction splits a six-carbon glucose molecule into two three-carbon molecules. As glycolysis proceeds through its subsequent steps, a total of four ATP molecules are produced. This results in a net gain of two ATP molecules during glycolysis, considering the initial investment of two ATPs.
Additionally, glycolysis also leads to the production of two molecules of NADH, which are high-energy electron carriers that can be used further in cellular respiration to produce more ATP. Therefore, not only do cells regenerate the invested ATP, but they also gain additional ATP and energy carriers necessary for various cellular functions.