Glycolysis
On its own, it is a form of Anaerobic Respiration
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The first stage begins with glycolysis, the splitting of Glucose
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Glucose is a six-carbon molecule that is broken into two three- carbon molecules called pyruvic acid.
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This breakdown of glucose also results in the net production of two molecules of ATP and two molecules of NADH.
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Glucose + 2 ATP + 2NAD+ → 2 Pyruvic acid + 4 ATP + 2NADH
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Glycolysis also creates two NADH, which result from the transfer of electrons to the carrier NAD+, which then becomes NADH.
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NAD+ and NADH are constantly being turned into each other as electrons are being carried and then unloaded.
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There are four important tidbits to remember regarding glycolysis:
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occurs in the cytoplasm
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net of 2 ATPs produced
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2 pyruvic acids formed
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2 NADH produced