Question

Which process in eukaryotic cells will proceed normally whether oxygen (o2) is present or absent?

a. the citric acid cycle
b. electron transport
c. chemiosmosis
d. glycolysis
e. oxidative phosphorylation?

Answer 1

The correct answer is glycolysis.

Glycolysis is an anaerobic process of splitting a molecule of glucose (6 carbons) to 2 molecules of pyruvate (3 carbons each). Glycolysis does not require the presence of oxygen and will still produce energy, albeit lower than aerobic metabolism. In the absence of oxygen, fermentation can occur wherein pyruvate is further converted into lactate.