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Multiple Choice
Which energy pathway produces the greatest amount of ATP during cellular respiration?
A
Citric acid cycle (Krebs cycle)
B
Fermentation
C
Electron transport chain and oxidative phosphorylation
D
Glycolysis
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the process of cellular respiration, which consists of three main stages: glycolysis, the citric acid cycle (Krebs cycle), and the electron transport chain coupled with oxidative phosphorylation.
Recall that glycolysis occurs in the cytoplasm and breaks down glucose into pyruvate, producing a small amount of ATP and NADH. This step is anaerobic and generates 2 ATP molecules per glucose molecule.
Learn that the citric acid cycle (Krebs cycle) occurs in the mitochondrial matrix and processes acetyl-CoA to produce NADH, FADH2, and a small amount of ATP. This step generates 2 ATP molecules per glucose molecule.
Understand that the electron transport chain and oxidative phosphorylation occur in the inner mitochondrial membrane. NADH and FADH2 donate electrons to the chain, creating a proton gradient that drives ATP synthesis via ATP synthase. This step produces the majority of ATP, approximately 28-34 ATP molecules per glucose molecule.
Conclude that the electron transport chain and oxidative phosphorylation are the energy pathways that produce the greatest amount of ATP during cellular respiration, far exceeding the ATP yield of glycolysis and the citric acid cycle.