Multiple Choice
Which statement about anaerobic respiration is true?
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8. Respiration
Fermentation & Anaerobic Respiration
Multiple Choice
Under anaerobic conditions, which molecule is most commonly produced in human muscle cells as a result of fermentation?
A
Oxygen
B
Ethanol
C
Lactic acid
D
Acetyl-CoA
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the context of the problem: Anaerobic conditions refer to environments where oxygen is not available. In human muscle cells, this triggers a specific metabolic pathway called fermentation.
Recall the purpose of fermentation: Fermentation allows cells to regenerate NAD⁺ from NADH, which is essential for glycolysis to continue producing ATP in the absence of oxygen.
Identify the type of fermentation in human muscle cells: Humans primarily undergo lactic acid fermentation under anaerobic conditions, unlike some organisms (e.g., yeast) that produce ethanol.
Describe the chemical process: During lactic acid fermentation, pyruvate (produced during glycolysis) is reduced to lactic acid by the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase. This reaction also converts NADH back to NAD⁺.
Conclude the answer: The molecule most commonly produced in human muscle cells under anaerobic conditions is lactic acid, as it is the end product of lactic acid fermentation.
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