Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video
Multiple Choice
Which organelle is primarily responsible for breaking down carbohydrates to produce usable energy in the form of ATP in eukaryotic cells?
A
Chloroplast
B
Nucleus
C
Ribosome
D
Mitochondrion
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the function of each organelle listed in the question: Chloroplasts are involved in photosynthesis, converting light energy into chemical energy stored in glucose. The nucleus houses genetic material and controls cellular activities. Ribosomes are responsible for protein synthesis. Mitochondria are known as the 'powerhouses' of the cell, where energy production occurs.
Recall that ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is the primary energy currency of the cell, and its production involves the breakdown of carbohydrates through cellular respiration.
Review the process of cellular respiration, which occurs in the mitochondria. This process includes glycolysis (in the cytoplasm), the citric acid cycle (in the mitochondrial matrix), and the electron transport chain (on the inner mitochondrial membrane).
Understand that carbohydrates, such as glucose, are broken down during cellular respiration to produce ATP. The mitochondria play a central role in this process by hosting the citric acid cycle and the electron transport chain, where the majority of ATP is generated.
Conclude that the organelle primarily responsible for breaking down carbohydrates to produce usable energy in the form of ATP in eukaryotic cells is the mitochondrion.