Aerobic Vs Anaerobic Respiration: Definition, Differences, Examples

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Definition of Aerobic Respiration

Aerobic respiration is a series of metabolic events that occur in the presence of oxygen in order to transform chemical energy into ATPs in a cell.

Except for certain early prokaryotes, all plants, animals, birds, and humans use aerobic respiration.
In aerobic respiration, oxygen serves as an electron acceptor, allowing ATPs to be produced more efficiently and quickly.
The energy of the double bond in oxygen is higher than that of other bonds, allowing for the production of more ATPs.
After glycolysis, it is the preferred method of pyruvate breakdown, in which the pyruvate enters the mitochondria and is totally oxidised during the Kreb’s cycle.
The oxidation of carbohydrates is accomplished through aerobic respiration, but products from fats and proteins are also utilised as reactants.
Aerobic respiration produces carbon dioxide gas and water, as well as the energy required to add a third phosphate group to ADP and generate ATP.
Other energy-dense molecules, such as NADH and FADH2, are transformed to ATP by an electron transport chain that includes oxygen and protons.
The majority of ATPs are produced during aerobic respiration during oxidative phosphorylation, which uses the energy of an oxygen molecule to pump protons out of the membrane.
Aerobic respiration causes complete carbohydrate oxidation, which occurs in the mitochondria of eukaryotic cells since the enzymes required for the process are present there.

Definition of Anaerobic Respiration

Anaerobic respiration is a type of cellular respiration in which neither oxygen nor pyruvate derivatives serve as a high-energy electron acceptor.

The electron acceptor in anaerobic respiration can be sulphate ion (SO4–), nitrate ion (NO3–), or a variety of other compounds.
Methanogens are archaea that consume carbon dioxide as an electron acceptor and produce methane as a by-product.
Another type of purple sulphur bacterium uses sulphate as an electron acceptor, resulting in the production of hydrogen sulphide as a by-product.
Because these organisms live in low-oxygen conditions, anaerobic pathways are used to break down chemical fuels.
Anaerobic respiration is similar to aerobic respiration in that the molecules join the electron transport chain, where the electrons are passed to the ultimate electron acceptor.
Anaerobic respiration’s final electron acceptors have a lower reduction potential than oxygen molecules, resulting in less energy production.
Anaerobic respiration, on the other hand, is necessary for carbon, nitrogen, and sulphur biogeochemical cycles.
In anaerobic respiration, the nitrate that works as an electron acceptor creates nitrogen gas as a by-product, and this is the only way for fixed nitrogen to reach the environment.
Fermentation is an anaerobic respiration pathway in which glycolysis is the only energy extraction pathway and the pyruvate is not further oxidised by the citric acid cycle.
During fermentation, the energy-rich molecule NADH is also not used.
Anaerobic respiration occurs in a variety of settings, including freshwater, soil, and deep-sea surfaces. Because oxygen cannot readily diffuse through their surface, certain bacteria in oxygenated settings use anaerobic respiration.
The cytoplasm of the prokaryotic cell is where anaerobic respiration and fermentation take place.
During acute contraction and relaxation, anaerobic respiration and fermentation activities occur in muscle cells.
Only two ATPs are gained per glucose molecule during fermentation.

Difference Between Aerobic And Anaerobic Respiration

(Aerobic Respiration vs Anaerobic Respiration)

Basis for comparison	Aerobic respiration	Anaerobic Respiration
Definition	Aerobic respiration is a series of metabolic events that occur in the presence of oxygen in order to transform chemical energy into ATPs in a cell.	Anaerobic respiration is a type of cellular respiration in which neither oxygen nor pyruvate derivatives serve as a high-energy electron acceptor.
Overall equation	C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ + 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + energy is the overall equation for aerobic respiration.	C₆H₁₂O₆ C₂H₅OH + CO₂ + energy is the general equation for anaerobic respiration.
Presence of Oxygen	In the presence of oxygen, aerobic respiration occurs.	Anaerobic respiration occurs when there is a lack of oxygen in the surroundings.
Exchange of gases	During aerobic respiration, oxygen is received and carbon dioxide is exhaled, resulting in a gas exchange.	Anaerobic respiration does not include the exchange of gases. Sulfur and nitrogen gases, for example, are released by some organisms.
Location	After glycolysis, aerobic respiration occurs in the mitochondria of eukaryotes and the cytoplasm of prokaryotes.	Anaerobic respiration takes place only in a cell’s cytoplasm.
End products	Carbon dioxide, water, and energy are the end products of aerobic respiration.	Acids, alcohols, gases, and energy are the end products of anaerobic respiration.
Energy produced	During aerobic respiration, a total of 38 ATPs are created, with some of them being lost in the process.	During anaerobic respiration, only two ATPs are generated.
Reactants	Carbohydrates and oxygen are required for aerobic respiration to occur.	Along with the carbohydrates, other electron acceptors such as sulphur and nitrogen are necessary.
Oxidation	During aerobic respiration, carbohydrates are completely oxidised.	During anaerobic respiration, carbohydrates are incompletely oxidised.
Nature of the process	In comparison to anaerobic respiration, aerobic respiration lasts longer.	Anaerobic respiration lasts for a shorter period of time than aerobic respiration.
Occurs in	Most higher creatures, such as plants and animals, use aerobic respiration.	In primordial prokaryotes, anaerobic respiration occurs. In humans, anaerobic respiration occurs in muscle cells during severe motions.

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Aerobic Respiration Examples

Respiration in humans

The process of cellular respiration in humans is aerobic respiration, in which the organism obtains its energy from the complete oxidation of glucose.
It starts in the cell’s cytoplasm, and the products are subsequently transported to the mitochondria, where they undergo additional reactions.
The lungs take oxygen, which is then stored in red blood cells. The oxygen is subsequently delivered to the cells that need it.
The glucose is then oxidised, generating carbon dioxide gas in the process.
The key metabolic processes for the oxidation of carbohydrates to liberate energy are included in cellular respiration in humans.

Anaerobic Respiration Examples

(a) In muscles, lactic acid is produced.

The muscles in our bodies cannot obtain enough oxygen during hard exercise, therefore they execute more glycolysis than the body can transfer oxygen to the electron transport chain.
Due to a lack of oxygen in our muscles, anaerobic respiration occurs.
As a result, anaerobic respiration takes place instead of aerobic respiration, resulting in the creation of lactic acid.
Lactic acid fermentation is a type of anaerobic respiration that yields just two ATPs per glucose molecule.
Lactic acid fermentation can be written as follows:

C₆H₁₂O₆ → C₃H₆O₃ + energy

Lactic acid fermentation in muscles causes lactic acid to build up in the tissues, resulting in aching muscles.
Anaerobic respiration produces less energy per glucose molecule than aerobic respiration, resulting in fatigue and shortness of breath.

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(b) Alcoholic fermentation by yeasts

Fermentation is a type of anaerobic respiration that involves the consumption of anaerobic organisms such as yeasts.
Yeasts conduct anaerobic respiration when carbohydrate-rich items are bottled with them, ensuring that the oxygen content in the bottle is kept to a minimum.
As a result, the yeast transforms carbohydrates into ethyl alcohol, resulting in fermentation.
However, the yeasts are toxic to the alcohol created in the bottle, which is why they begin to die as the alcohol concentration rises.
Only approximately 30% of alcohol can be produced with yeasts, with larger concentrations achieved through the distillation process.
Fermentation, like lactic acid fermentation, produces only two ATPs as energy.
Fermentation’s total reaction can be written as:

C₆H₁₂O₆ → C₂H₅OH + CO₂+ energy

(c) Methanogen fermentation

Methanogens are archaea-related prokaryotes.
Because they make methane as a by-product of oxidising carbohydrates in the absence of oxygen, these organisms are called methanogens. Methanogenesis is the name for this process.
This is another type of fermentation that produces methanol, a distinct sort of alcohol. Methanol poisoning is another name for this phenomenon.
Methanogens (such as Methanosarcina barkeri) oxidise plant cellulose to make methanol rather than ethyl alcohol, as yeasts do.
Some persons may have nerve damage or even death as a result of methanol intoxication.
The following is the overall response of methanol production:

C₆H₁₂O₆ → CH₃OH + CO₂ + energy

(d) Fermentation of propionic acid in cheese

Propionic acid fermentation occurs when bacteria (such as Propionibacterium shermanii) use carbohydrates such as lactose and glucose to create propionic acid and CO2.
Swiss cheese is the most common example of this process in action.
Because of the carbon dioxide gas created during this process, bubbles form in the cheese, as well as a particular flavour due to the carboxylic acid.
This, like all other anaerobic respiration processes, occurs when there is no or little oxygen available.
This process’s overall reaction is:

C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁ → C₃H₆O₂ + CO₂ + energy

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