Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video
Multiple Choice
Which of the following is considered the most ancient energy pathway among organisms?
A
Glycolysis
B
Krebs cycle (Citric Acid Cycle)
C
Oxidative phosphorylation
D
Photosynthesis
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the question: The problem is asking which energy pathway is considered the most ancient among organisms. This requires knowledge of the evolutionary history of metabolic pathways.
Step 1: Recall that ancient energy pathways are those that evolved early in Earth's history, likely in an environment with little or no oxygen (anaerobic conditions).
Step 2: Analyze the options: Glycolysis, Krebs cycle (Citric Acid Cycle), Oxidative phosphorylation, and Photosynthesis. Consider which of these processes can occur in the absence of oxygen and is found universally across organisms.
Step 3: Glycolysis is a process that breaks down glucose into pyruvate, producing ATP, and it does not require oxygen. It is a fundamental pathway found in nearly all living organisms, suggesting it evolved early in the history of life.
Step 4: Compare this to the other options: The Krebs cycle and oxidative phosphorylation are part of aerobic respiration, which requires oxygen, and photosynthesis evolved later as a way to harness light energy. Therefore, glycolysis is the most ancient energy pathway.