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Aerobic vs. Anaerobic Respiration: 11 Differences, Examples Agricultural Microbiology (16)
August 3, 2023 by Anupama Sapkota
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Edited By: Sagar Aryal
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Table of Contents
Aerobic Respiration Definition Protocols (9)
Anaerobic Respiration Definition Research Methodology (20)
Key differences (Aerobic Respiration vs Anaerobic Respiration)
Staining (29)
Basis for comparison
Aerobic respiration Syllabus (19)
Anaerobic respiration Virology (50)
Examples of Aerobic Respiration
Respiration in humans
Examples of Anaerobic Respiration
AD
Lactic acid production in muscles
Alcoholic fermentation by yeasts
Fermentation in methanogens
Propionic acid fermentation in cheese
References and Sources

Interesting Science Videos

Aerobic Respiration Definition

Aerobic respiration is a set of metabolic reactions that take place in the presence of
oxygen, occurring in a cell to convert chemical energy into ATPs.

Aerobic respiration takes place in all plants, animals, birds, and humans, except for some
primitive prokaryotes.
In aerobic respiration, oxygen acts as an electron acceptor which helps produce ATPs more
effectively and more quickly.
The double bond in the oxygen has higher energy than other bonds which aids to produce
more ATPs.
It is the preferred method of degradation of pyruvate after glycolysis where the pyruvate then
enters the mitochondria to be fully oxidized during the Kreb’s cycle.
The process of aerobic respiration is utilized for the oxidation of carbohydrates, but products
from fats and proteins are also used as reactants.
Carbon dioxide gas and water are the two products of aerobic respiration along with the
energy that is used to add a third phosphate group to ADP and form ATP.
Other energy-rich molecules like NADH and FADH2 are converted into ATP via electron
transport chain with oxygen and protons.
During aerobic respiration, most ATPs are produced during oxidative phosphorylation where
the energy of oxygen molecule is used to pump protons out of the membrane.
The passage of protons creates a potential that is then used to initiate ATP synthase and
produce ATP from ADP and a phosphate group.
Ideally, a total of 38 ATPs are produced at the end of the aerobic respiration. However, some
LEAM Solution Fluorescence Microscope
energy is lost due to leaking of the membrane or the cost of moving pyruvate through the
cell, as a result of which about 29-30 ATPs are only produced.
Aerobic respiration results in complete oxidation of carbohydrate molecules which take place AD

in the mitochondria of eukaryotic cells as the enzymes for the process are present there.

Anaerobic Respiration Definition

Anaerobic respiration is a process of cellular respiration where the high energy electron
acceptor is neither oxygen nor pyruvate derivatives.

In anaerobic respiration, the electron acceptor can be sulfate ion (SO4–) or nitrate ion (NO3–)
or a variety of other molecules.
Some archaea, called methanogens, are known to use carbon dioxide as the electron
acceptor, producing methane as a by-product.
Similarly, another group of purple sulfur bacteria uses sulfate as an electron acceptor, thus
producing hydrogen sulfide as a by-product.
These organisms reside in low-oxygen environments and thus opt for anaerobic pathways to
break down the chemical fuels.
Anaerobic respiration is similar to aerobic respiration in that the molecules enter the electron
AD
transport chain to pass the electrons to the final electron acceptor.
The final electron acceptors involved in anaerobic respiration have a smaller reduction
potential than oxygen molecules which results in less energy production.
Anaerobic respiration, however, is essential for biogeochemical cycles of carbon, nitrogen,
and sulfur.
The nitrate that acts as an electron acceptor in anaerobic respiration produces nitrogen gas as
a by-product, and this process is the only route for fixed nitrogen to reach the atmosphere.
Fermentation is another pathway for anaerobic respiration, where the only energy extraction
pathway is glycolysis, and the pyruvate is not further oxidized via the citric acid cycle.
The energy-rich molecule, NADH, is also not utilized during fermentation.
Anaerobic respiration takes place in many environments like freshwater, soil, deep-sea
surfaces. Some microbes in oxygenated environments also utilize anaerobic respiration
because oxygen cannot readily diffuse through their surface.
Anaerobic respiration and fermentation, both take place in the cytoplasm of the prokaryotic
cell.
Anaerobic respiration and fermentation processes take place in the muscle cells during
immediate contraction and relaxation.
Coxiella burnetii: Characteristics,
Fermentation results in a total gain of only two ATPs per glucose molecule.
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Applications

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Assessment

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Epidemiology

Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 Syllabus

(2023-2025)

Key differences (Aerobic Respiration vs Anaerobic Respiration)

AD

Basis for
Aerobic respiration Anaerobic respiration
comparison

Aerobic respiration is a set of Anaerobic respiration is a process

metabolic reactions that take of cellular respiration where the
Definition place in the presence of oxygen, high energy electron acceptor is
occurring in a cell to convert neither oxygen nor pyruvate
chemical energy into ATPs. derivatives.

The overall equation of aerobic The overall equation of anaerobic

respiration is: respiration is:

Overall equation
C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + C6H12O6 → C2H5OH + CO2 +
energy energy

Anaerobic respiration takes place in

Presence of Aerobic respiration takes place in
a condition where there is a low
Oxygen the presence of oxygen.
oxygen environment.

The exchange of gases doesn’t take

There is an exchange of gases
place during anaerobic respiration. AD
Exchange of during aerobic respiration where
However, some gases like sulfur
gases oxygen is absorbed, and carbon
and nitrogen gases are released by
dioxide is released.
some organisms.

Aerobic respiration, after

glycolysis, occurs in the Anaerobic respiration occurs only in
Location
mitochondria of eukaryotes and the cytoplasm of a cell.
cytoplasm of prokaryotes.

The end products of aerobic The end products of anaerobic

End products respiration are carbon dioxide, respiration are acids, alcohols,
water, and energy. gases, and energy.

A total of 38 ATPs are produced

during aerobic respiration, some Only 2 ATPs are formed during
Energy produced
of which are lost during the anaerobic respiration.
process.

Carbohydrates and oxygen are the Some other electron acceptors like
Reactants prerequisites of aerobic sulfur and nitrogen are required
respiration. along with the carbohydrates.

Complete oxidation of Incomplete oxidation of

Oxidation carbohydrates takes place during carbohydrates takes place during
aerobic respiration. anaerobic respiration.

Aerobic respiration is
Nature of the Anaerobic respiration is shorter
comparatively longer than
process than aerobic respiration.
anaerobic respiration.

Anaerobic respiration occurs in

Aerobic respiration occurs in most primitive prokaryotes. Anaerobic
Occurs in of the higher organisms like plants respiration also takes place in the
and animals. muscle cells in humans during
extreme movements.

Examples of Aerobic Respiration

Respiration in humans
The process of cellular respiration in humans is aerobic respiration, where complete oxidation
of glucose yields the energy required for the body.
It begins in the cytoplasm of the cell, and the products are then moved into the mitochondria,
where further reactions take place.
The oxygen is absorbed by the lungs and is stored in the red blood cells. The oxygen is then
passed to the cells that require energy.
The glucose is then oxidized to produce energy while releasing carbon dioxide gas.
Cellular respiration in humans includes the major metabolic pathways for the oxidation of
carbohydrates to release energy.

Examples of Anaerobic Respiration

Lactic acid production in muscles
During intense exercise, the muscles in our body cannot get enough oxygen and thus perform
more glycolysis than the body can transfer oxygen to the electron transport chain.
This results in anaerobic respiration due to insufficient oxygen in our muscles.
Thus, instead of aerobic respiration, anaerobic respiration takes place which results in the
formation of lactic acid.
This type of anaerobic respiration is called lactic acid fermentation that produces just 2 ATPs
per glucose molecules.
The equation of lactic acid fermentation can be written as:

C6H12O6 → C3H6O3 + energy

Lactic acid fermentation in muscles results in the accumulation of lactic acid in the tissues,
which leads to sore muscles.
Because less energy is produced per glucose molecule during anaerobic respiration than
aerobic respiration, this results in weakness and shortness of breath.

Alcoholic fermentation by yeasts

Fermentation is another type of anaerobic respiration that takes in anaerobic organisms like
yeasts.
When carbohydrate-rich substances are bottled with yeasts, ensuring minimum oxygen
content in the bottle, yeasts undergo anaerobic respiration.
As a result, fermentation takes place where the yeast converts carbohydrates into ethyl
alcohol.
The alcohol produced in the bottle, however, is toxic to the yeasts, which is why they start to
dies as the alcohol concentration increases.
Only about 30% of alcohol can be brewed with yeasts while the higher concentrations are
obtained through the distillation process.
As in lactic acid fermentation, fermentation also results in just 2 ATPs as energy.
The overall reaction of fermentation can be written as:

C6H12O6 → C2H5OH + CO2 + energy

Fermentation in methanogens
Methanogens are prokaryotes that belong in archaea.
These organisms are named methanogens because they produce methane as a by-product by
oxidizing carbohydrates in the absence of oxygen. This process is called methanogenesis.
This is also a type of fermentation that results in the formation of different alcohol, methanol.
This process is also called methanol poisoning.
Methanogens (e.g. Methanosarcina barkeri) oxidize cellulose from plants to produce methanol
instead of ethyl alcohol as in the case of yeasts.
Methanol poisoning might result in nerve damage or even death in some people.
The overall reaction of methanol production is:

C6H12O6 → CH3OH + CO2 + energy

Propionic acid fermentation in cheese

Propionic acid fermentation occurs when some bacteria (e.g. Propionibacterium shermanii)
utilize carbohydrates like lactose and glucose to produce propionic acid and carbon dioxide.
The most common application of this process can be observed in Swiss cheese.
The carbon dioxide gas produced during this process results in the formation of bubbles in
the cheese along with the distinct flavor due to the carboxylic acid.
This process, like all other anaerobic respiration processes, occurs during the absence or low
concentration of oxygen.
The overall reaction of this process is:

C12H22O11 → C3H6O2 + CO2 + energy

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About Author

Anupama Sapkota

Anupama Sapkota has a bachelor’s degree (B.Sc.) in Microbiology from St.

Xavier's College, Kathmandu, Nepal. She is particularly interested in studies
regarding antibiotic resistance with a focus on drug discovery.

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