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Why is the rate of consumption of glucose higher in the absence of oxygen than in its presence at 35 °C? A - VCE - SSCE Biology - Question 19 - 2023 - Paper 1
Question 19
Why is the rate of consumption of glucose higher in the absence of oxygen than in its presence at 35 °C? A. Oxygen stimulates lactate formation. B. Oxygen inhibits t... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Why is the rate of consumption of glucose higher in the absence of oxygen than in its presence at 35 °C? A - VCE - SSCE Biology - Question 19 - 2023 - Paper 1
Step 1
D. Less ATP is formed from glucose in the absence of oxygen.
Answer
In the absence of oxygen, glucose undergoes anaerobic respiration. This process results in the formation of less ATP (only 2 molecules of ATP per glucose molecule) compared to aerobic respiration, which yields approximately 30-32 ATP molecules. The lower efficiency of ATP production in anaerobic conditions leads to an increased rate of glucose consumption to meet the energy demands of the cell, as more glucose is needed to produce the same amount of usable energy.