Question

How often does the body perform cellular respiration?

Answer 1

The set of chemical metabolic reactions that occur in living organisms to produce energy through the breakdown of food molecules or sugar molecules by the action of oxygen is called cellular respiration.

Complete answer:
The process through which the chemical energy of the organic food molecules is converted into chemical forms that can be used by the organisms to maintain and sustain their life functions is called cellular respiration. The reactants of this reaction are- oxygen and glucose. ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) and waste products like- carbon dioxide and water are the products obtained.

These reactions begin in the cytoplasm of the cell and then proceed to the double-membranous organelle- Mitochondria. It occurs in the autotrophic as well as heterotrophic organisms. It occurs in the sets of three metabolic pathways- Glycolysis, Krebs cycle, and the electron transport chain reaction. Glycolysis is an anaerobic process that converts 1 molecule of glucose into two molecules of Pyruvic acid. The other steps of cellular respiration can be anaerobic or aerobic, depending upon the availability of oxygen. Aerobic respiration occurs in the presence of oxygen and is common in most plants and animals. Anaerobic respiration occurs in the absence of oxygen and is common in most prokaryotes like bacteria and archaea. The net ATP production through cellular respiration is - 38 ATP (Glycolysis- 2, Kreb Cycle- 2, Electron transport chain-).

The ATP produced in cellular respiration is used by- organisms to perform several functions. Some of those functions are- regulation of heart rate, movement of muscles and bones, thinking, growth and development, maintenance of the metabolic reactions that keep the cells and our body healthy, digestion, various physical cavities, etc. Energy is also required by the organisms when the body is in a state of rest. The body performs various involuntary functions during the state of rest like regulation of heart rate, breathing, pumping of blood, etc. Due to the constant requirement of energy at all times, cellular respiration has to occur all the time.

The cellular respiration in our body occurs at all times as it is important for the- survival of an individual. The energy produced is used by the body to perform various tasks.

Note: In the absence or lack of oxygen, cells perform cellular respiration by the process of fermentation. It is an anaerobic process that releases energy in the form of ATP by the breakdown of sugar molecules. The partial breakdown of sugar molecules can result in the formation of lactic acid. Prolonged deficiency of oxygen or cellular respiration can be fatal to the organism.