Final answer:
Cellular respiration is an essential process for the production of ATP in cells, occurring in the mitochondria (except for glycolysis in the cytoplasm) with reactants glucose and oxygen yielding ATP, water, and carbon dioxide.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Cellular Respiration
Cellular respiration is a critical process in which cells convert glucose into energy (ATP). It is essential for the survival of all aerobic organisms. The extensive reactions of cellular respiration take place in three main stages: glycolysis, the Krebs cycle (or citric acid cycle), and the electron transport chain.
Function of Cellular Respiration
The primary function of cellular respiration is to generate adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which cells use as a source of energy. The process also generates water and carbon dioxide as byproducts.
Location of Reactions
Most reactions of cellular respiration occur in the mitochondria of eukaryotic cells, while glycolysis occurs in the cytoplasm.
Reactants and Products
The reactants are oxygen (O2) and glucose (C6H12O6), while the main products are ATP, water (H2O), and carbon dioxide (CO2). During glycolysis, glucose is split into two pyruvate molecules in the cytoplasm, which then enter the mitochondria for the Krebs cycle and electron transport chain.
Importance of the Mitochondrion
The structure of the mitochondrion is pivotal to the efficiency of cellular respiration. It provides the necessary environment for the Krebs cycle and electron transport, allowing for the effective production of ATP.
For organisms without mitochondria, such as the hypothetical species discovered in the question, they would likely perform anaerobic respiration since they lack the organelle needed for aerobic respiration.
The water vapor you exhale, which condenses on a cold window pane, is one of the byproducts of cellular respiration and results from metabolic processes in your body.