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I get confused about what each type of respiration produces, especially in our muscles versus in yeast. Can someone compare the end products?
Both types start by breaking glucose into pyruvate in the cytoplasm. The difference is what happens next. Aerobic respiration uses oxygen and fully breaks down pyruvate in the mitochondria, producing carbon dioxide and water, and releasing a large amount of energy (about 38 ATP per glucose). Anaerobic respiration happens without oxygen and releases much less energy. In yeast and some microbes, pyruvate is converted into ethanol and carbon dioxide, which is called fermentation and is used in baking and brewing. In our muscle cells during heavy exercise, when oxygen runs short, pyruvate is converted into lactic acid, which builds up and causes muscle cramps and fatigue. So aerobic gives carbon dioxide plus water with lots of energy, while anaerobic gives either alcohol or lactic acid with little energy.
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