Cellular Respiration Basics
Ever wonder how your body turns that sandwich into energy? That's cellular respiration! This metabolic process breaks down glucose to release energy in the form of ATP. The basic equation looks like this: C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + ATP.
Cellular respiration has three main stages: glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, and the electron transport chain. Glycolysis happens first in the cytoplasm of your cells. It splits glucose into two molecules of pyruvic acid, gaining 2 ATP in the process. Interestingly, about 90% of glucose's energy remains locked in the pyruvic acid at this point!
The Krebs cycle (also called the citric acid cycle) occurs in the mitochondria. Here, pyruvic acid from glycolysis is broken down further to produce carbon dioxide, some ATP, and important electron carrier molecules. These electron carriers are crucial for the next stage.
Energy Fact: Think of glycolysis as just the appetizer - it only captures about 10% of glucose's potential energy. The main course comes later!
The electron transport chain is where most ATP is produced. Located in the inner mitochondrial membrane in eukaryotes (like us), this process uses high-energy electrons from carrier molecules. As hydrogen ions pass through ATP synthase, it rotates like a tiny molecular waterwheel, generating ATP with each turn!