Aerobic and anaerobic respiration

• Aerobic respiration


  Respiration using oxygen, the most efficient way to transfer energy from glucose
• Aerobic respiration


  • Happens all the time in plants and animals
  • Most reactions happen inside mitochondria
• Aerobic respiration


  Glucose + oxygen -> carbon dioxide + water
• Anaerobic respiration


  Respiration without oxygen, incomplete breakdown of glucose making lactic acid
• Anaerobic respiration in muscle cells

  Glucose -> lactic acid
• Anaerobic respiration does not transfer nearly as much energy as aerobic respiration
• Anaerobic respiration is only useful in emergencies, e.g. during exercise when it allows you to keep on using your muscles for a while longer
• Anaerobic respiration in plants and yeast

  Glucose -> ethanol + carbon dioxide
• Anaerobic respiration in yeast cells

  Called fermentation
• Fermentation by yeast is used to make bread and alcoholic drinks, e.g. beer and wine
• In bread-making, it's the carbon dioxide from fermentation that makes bread rise
• In beer and wine-making, it's the fermentation process that produces alcohol
• Yeast are single-celled organisms