alleryStart learning →Mature mammalian red blood cells cannot carry out aerobic respiration. What follows from that fact?
AThey rely on glycolysis alone for ATP
BThey rely on the citric acid cycle for ATP
CThey make ATP in their mitochondria only
DThey make no ATP and live on stored sugar
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. They rely on glycolysis alone for ATP
1. Aerobic respiration is the process in which organisms convert energy in the presence of oxygen.
2. Mature mammalian red blood cells are not capable of it, so glycolysis is their sole source of adenosine triphosphate.
3. Without further catabolism of pyruvate, they harvest only two adenosine triphosphate per glucose.
4. If glycolysis is interrupted they lose their sodium-potassium pumps and eventually die.
_Source: OpenStax Biology (1st ed., CC BY 4.0), Ch 7 "Cellular Respiration", section 7.2 Glycolysis_
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