Final answer:
The process by which living things get energy from food with the presence of oxygen is known as cellular respiration. This involves the oxidation of food molecules to produce ATP, which is the energy currency of the cell. Cellular respiration includes glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, and the electron transport chain, resulting in the release of energy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cellular Respiration
The process by which all living things get energy from food when oxygen is present is known as cellular respiration. This biological process involves the oxidation of food molecules, such as glucose, to produce energy. The food we consume is broken down and oxidized by enzymes, yielding reducing equivalents like NADH and FADH2, which are rich in electrons. These reducing equivalents donate their electrons to the oxygen we inhale, during which energy is released. This energy is used to form adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the 'energy currency' of the cell, powering various cellular functions and maintaining life.
Cellular respiration encompasses several stages, including glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, and the electron transport chain. It is a controlled 'burning' of carbohydrates that reacts with oxygen, thereby producing carbon dioxide and water. This process results in a substantial release of energy, which is then captured in the form of ATP. While aerobic respiration requires oxygen, which is abundantly available in Earth's atmosphere, some organisms can also derive energy in the absence of oxygen through processes like glycolysis or other metabolic pathways suited to anaerobic environments.