ACTIVITY 3

Cellular respiration is the process by which sugar is converted to energy to create ATP and other
forms of energy to power cellular reactions, and invovls several processes. It is also by
which organisms combine oxygen with foodstuff molecules, diverting the chemical energy in
these substances into life-sustaining activities and discarding, as waste products, carbon
dioxide and water.
Cellular respiration occurs in three stages: glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, and electron
transport. Glycolysis is the first stage in which enzymes split a molecule of glucose into two
smaller molecules called pyruvate that results in a net gain of two molecules of ATP. It
doesn’t require oxygen. The second stage is the Kreb’s Cycle, two more molecules of ATP
are produced and other energy-storing molecules are also produced (to be used to make
more ATP in stage 3). It requires oxygen and when oxygen combines with the carbon from
the pyruvate molecules, co2 is produces as a waste product. Electron transport chain is
the third and final stage, the energy from other-energy storing molecules from glycolysis and
the Krebs cycle is used in this stage to make many more molecules of ATP. In fact, during
this stage, as many as 34 molecules of ATP are produced. It also requires oxygen and when
oxygen combines with the energy storing molecules, water is formed as a waste product.

Cells break down glucose in a series of complex chemical reactions

and combine the reaction products with oxygen to store energy
in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) molecules. The ATP molecules are
used to power cell activities and act as the universal energy source for
living organisms. Cellular respiration forms the basis for all other
human activities. Cellular respiration helps humans in many ways. It helps us with
simple everyday tasks because it gives us energy. Although it helps us with simple things it
helps us just as much with more complex functions. Without energy our bodies wouldn't be
able to repair themselves so we wouldn't be healthy. All these features impact how a
cell can use different substances..
 ACTIVITY 3

Simple ESSAY

1. What is cellular respiration?

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2. What are the three processes involved in cellular respiration? Briefly discuss each.

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3. How does the process of cellular respiration affect humans?

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