How do aerobic and anaerobic respiration compare?

A. Both aerobic and anaerobic respiration are very efficient and produce a large amount of energy.

B. Neither anaerobic nor aerobic respiration is very efficient or produces a large amount of energy.

C. Anaerobic respiration is very efficient and produces a large amount of energy, while aerobic respiration is not very efficient and produces a small amount of energy.

D. Aerobic respiration is very efficient and produces a large amount of energy, while anaerobic respiration is not very efficient and produces a small amount of energy.

Answer is D.

Aerobic respiration is a type of respiration in which there is complete oxidation of food in presence of oxygen. Aerobic respiration is occurs in three stages, first is glycolysis which occurs in the cytoplasm and second is Krebs cycle occurs in mitochondrial matrix and third is electron transport system (ETS) occurs in inner membrane of mitochondria. The end products of aerobic respiration are carbon dioxide and water and high amount of energy (38ATP). Aerobic respiration in multicellular organisms such as animals, plants, humans, etc.

Whereas, anaerobic respiration is a type of respiration in which there is incomplete oxidation of food in absence of oxygen. This type of respiration occurs in yeast or muscle cells. Anaerobic respiration is occurs in two stages, first is glycolysis and second is fermentation. The end products of anaerobic respiration are carbon dioxide and ethanol or lactic acid and very small amount of energy (2ATP).

Answer: D

Aerobic respiration is more efficient as it causes the complete breakdown of organic molecule (Glucose) into Carbondioxide and water. This results in extraction of large amount of energy which is 38 ATP.

In the contrary anaerobic respiration which occurs during fermentation produces alcohol or lactic acid. It is very less efficient as only 2ATP molecules are produced.