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AAT Bioquest

What are the examples of anaerobic respiration?

Posted February 8, 2024


Answer

Anaerobic and aerobic respiration are two types of cellular respiration. Anaerobic respiration produces energy in the absence of oxygen while aerobic respiration occurs only in the presence of oxygen. 

  • Lactic acid fermentation: Lactic acid fermentation is a metabolic process that enables cells to maintain energy production even if there isn’t sufficient oxygen available.
  • Gut bacteria: Certain species of gut bacteria use anaerobic respiration to break down complex carbohydrates and generate gasses such as hydrogen and methane.
  • Human Muscle Cells: Human muscle cells switch to anaerobic respiration, primarily lactic acid fermentation, when oxygen demand is more than the available supply such as during intense physical activity
  • Alcoholic Fermentation: Alcoholic fermentation is a metabolic process that allows organisms to generate energy when oxygen is not readily available.
  • Yeast: Yeast cells undergo alcoholic fermentation when oxygen is unavailable. The production of alcoholic beverages such as wine and beer, in which sugars are converted by yeast into carbon dioxide and ethanol, is based on this process. 
  • Deep-sea environment: Microorganisms that live in the deep sea where oxygen levels are very low carry out anaerobic respiration using alternate electron acceptors such as sulfur compounds.
Additional resources

Aerobic Respiration and Its Regulation in the Metal Reducer Shewanella oneidensis

Cellular Processes

PhosphoWorks™ Fluorimetric ATP Assay Kit