Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video
Multiple Choice
In the process of cellular respiration, what do organisms primarily break down to produce ATP?
A
Glucose
B
Nucleic acids
C
Cellulose
D
Cholesterol
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the process of cellular respiration: Cellular respiration is the process by which cells convert biochemical energy from nutrients into adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy currency of the cell.
Identify the primary molecule used in cellular respiration: Glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆) is the main molecule that organisms break down during cellular respiration to produce ATP.
Eliminate incorrect options: Nucleic acids (e.g., DNA and RNA) are not used for energy production; they are involved in genetic information storage and transfer. Cellulose is a structural carbohydrate in plants and is not directly used for ATP production in most organisms. Cholesterol is a lipid involved in membrane structure and hormone synthesis, not energy production.
Recall the stages of cellular respiration: Glucose is broken down in three main stages—glycolysis, the citric acid cycle (Krebs cycle), and oxidative phosphorylation—to produce ATP.
Conclude that glucose is the correct answer: Based on the role of glucose in cellular respiration, it is the primary molecule organisms break down to produce ATP.