Question

Both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms carry out some form of glycolysis. How does that fact support or not support the assertion that glycolysis is one of the oldest metabolic pathways?

a) Supports; indicates a common evolutionary origin
b) Does not support; prokaryotes evolved later than eukaryotes
c) Supports; glycolysis is exclusive to eukaryotes
d) Does not support; glycolysis evolved independently in both groups

Answer 1

The fact that both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms carry out some form of glycolysis supports the assertion that glycolysis is one of the oldest metabolic pathways.

Step-by-step explanation:

Glycolysis is one of the oldest metabolic pathways, and the fact that both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms carry out some form of glycolysis supports this assertion. Glycolysis is a universal metabolic process that occurs in the cytoplasm of cells and does not require oxygen. This suggests that glycolysis predates the evolution of oxygen-utilizing cell components like mitochondria. The conservation of glycolysis throughout all domains of life provides strong evidence for its ancient origin, supporting the notion that it is one of the oldest metabolic pathways.