Heterotrophs take organic compounds and break them down in the presence of oxygen to form water and carbon dioxide while also generating ATP. Autotrophs, which are organisms that survive on their own food3, convert this carbon dioxide and water produced back into organic compounds. Autotrophs can also break down the organic compounds to make carbon dioxide and water. There are three steps in cellular respiration: glycolysis, kerb cycle, and the electron transport chain. Glycolysis takes place outside the mitochondria in the cytoplasm. Glycolysis breaks down a molecule of glucose which has six carbon, down into two molecules of pyruvate which have three carbon in them. This will generate two ATP for one glucose molecule. Glycolysis also creates a chemical called NADH. The pyruvate will diffuse into the mitochondria which will make pyruvate dehydrogenase complex. This converts the pyruvate molecules into acetyl CoA which is Coenzyme A which is a two carbon molecule. Since a three carbon molecule goes to a two carbon molecule, this means carbon is given off, which is given off in the form of carbon
Heterotrophs take organic compounds and break them down in the presence of oxygen to form water and carbon dioxide while also generating ATP. Autotrophs, which are organisms that survive on their own food3, convert this carbon dioxide and water produced back into organic compounds. Autotrophs can also break down the organic compounds to make carbon dioxide and water. There are three steps in cellular respiration: glycolysis, kerb cycle, and the electron transport chain. Glycolysis takes place outside the mitochondria in the cytoplasm. Glycolysis breaks down a molecule of glucose which has six carbon, down into two molecules of pyruvate which have three carbon in them. This will generate two ATP for one glucose molecule. Glycolysis also creates a chemical called NADH. The pyruvate will diffuse into the mitochondria which will make pyruvate dehydrogenase complex. This converts the pyruvate molecules into acetyl CoA which is Coenzyme A which is a two carbon molecule. Since a three carbon molecule goes to a two carbon molecule, this means carbon is given off, which is given off in the form of carbon