Final answer:
The primary metabolic phenomenon associated with the Warburg effect is preferential use of glycolysis even in the presence of oxygen.
Step-by-step explanation:
The primary metabolic phenomenon associated with the Warburg effect is preferential use of glycolysis even in the presence of oxygen.
The Warburg effect refers to the observation that cancer cells tend to rely heavily on glycolysis, a process that converts glucose into pyruvate, even when oxygen is present. This is in contrast to normal cells, which primarily use oxidative phosphorylation to generate energy.
This preference for glycolysis in cancer cells is advantageous for tumor growth and survival, as it allows for increased glucose uptake and rapid production of ATP to support rapid cell division.