What is the key structural difference between glycolysis and the citric acid cycle?
AThe cycle needs no enzymes at any of its steps
BThe cycle uses no electron carriers at all
CThe cycle runs backwards to rebuild glucose
DThe cycle is a closed loop, not a straight line
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: D. The cycle is a closed loop, not a straight line
1. Glycolysis is a linear pathway that starts with glucose and finishes with pyruvate.
2. The citric acid cycle is a closed loop instead.
3. The last part of that pathway regenerates the compound used in the first step.
4. Because the final product is also the first reactant, the cycle runs continuously while reactants last.
_Source: OpenStax Biology (1st ed., CC BY 4.0), Ch 7 "Cellular Respiration", section 7.3 Oxidation of Pyruvate and the Citric Acid Cycle_
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