Final answer:
Glycolysis is the pathway where glucose is converted into two molecules of pyruvate, producing a net gain of two ATP and two NADH molecules. The correct option that describes glycolysis is 'D) It converts glucose to pyruvate, NADH, and ATP.'
Step-by-step explanation:
Glycolysis Overview
Glycolysis is a crucial metabolic pathway that involves the breakdown of glucose into two molecules of pyruvate, producing adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and the electron carrier molecule nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) in the process. Taking place in the cytoplasm of cells, this series of reactions is the first stage of cellular respiration, which occurs both in the presence and absence of oxygen. A single glucose molecule, through glycolysis, is transformed into two pyruvate molecules, along with a net gain of two ATP molecules and two NADH molecules.
The correct answer to the question is 'D) It converts glucose to pyruvate, NADH, and ATP.' This response most accurately describes what occurs during glycolysis, distinguishing it from other stages of cellular respiration where different products are formed, such as acetyl CoA, FADH2, and CO2 in the citric acid cycle and electron transport chain.