Why is glucose consumed at a high rate in the absence of oxygen and at a low rate in its presence?

Answer 1

You mean if I hold my breathe I'll lose weight????
cooolllll....

Answer 2

In the presence of oxygen, aerobic respiration takes place and 1 glucose molecule yields about 38 molecules of ATP. ATP is like the 'energy carrier' in our body. Aerobic respiration has an efficiency of approximately 40.4%.

In the absence of oxygen, anaerobic respiration takes place, and 1 glucose molecule yields about 2 ATP molecules. Anaerobic respiration has an efficiency of approximately 2.13%.

Thus, glucose consumption is about 19 times more in anaerobic respiration than aerobic respiration. I.e. to get the same amount of energy in the presence of oxygen, 19x the amount of glucose used in the presence of oxygen has to be consumed in the absence of oxygen.

Answer 3

Aerobic respiration requires oxygen in order to generate energy. It is the preferred method of pyruvate breakdown from glycolysis and requires that pyruvate enter the mitochondrion to be fully oxidized by the Krebs cycle. Man cannot live without Aerobic respiration By only Anaerobic, this is why we die when we cant breathe. Some bacteria and other cellular organisms can live on only Anaerobic respiration and produce enough energy

Answer 4

Without oxygen - one molecule of glucose only yields 2 ATP for cell energy, so many molecules of glucose must be used. It's like only getting 2 miles per gallon -- you're going to have to use a lot of gallons of gasoline.

With oxygen - one molecule of glucose can yield up to 36-38 ATP for cell energy, so the cell doesn't need to burn as many molecules of glucose. It's like getting 36-38 miles per gallon -- you aren't going to have to use as many gallons of gasoline.

Answer 5

Clarify.....
Consumed by what? Do you mean stored or burned?