Final answer:
The TCA cycle, also known as the (b) Krebs cycle, is named after Hans Krebs who identified it in the 1930s, and it plays an integral role in energy production within the mitochondria, producing ATP, NADH, and FADH2.
Step-by-step explanation:
The TCA cycle is also known as the Krebs cycle after Sir Hans Krebs, who elucidated the sequence in the 1930s. The TCA cycle, which stands for tricarboxylic acid cycle, is a crucial metabolic pathway that takes place in the mitochondria. It converts pyruvate into carbon dioxide (CO2) and high-energy molecules such as FADH2, NADH, and ATP. This cycle was first proposed by Hans Krebs in 1937, for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1953.
During the Krebs cycle, acetyl CoA combines with oxaloacetate to form citrate, which then goes through a series of reactions to regenerate oxaloacetate while producing ATP, NADH, and FADH2 that can be used in oxidative phosphorylation to create more ATP.