Humber Admissions Practice Test

What is the primary outcome of glycolysis?

1. The production of carbon dioxide

2. The breakdown of glucose into energy and pyruvic acid

3. The formation of ATP from ADP

4. The conversion of lactate to glucose

The correct answer is: The breakdown of glucose into energy and pyruvic acid

The primary outcome of glycolysis is the breakdown of glucose into energy and pyruvic acid. Glycolysis is a metabolic pathway that consists of a series of enzymatic reactions. This process occurs in the cytoplasm of cells and is the first step in the cellular respiration pathway. It involves the conversion of one molecule of glucose (a six-carbon sugar) into two molecules of pyruvate (a three-carbon compound). During this process, a small amount of energy is released and stored in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which is the energy currency of the cell. Additionally, glycolysis produces NADH, a carrier of electrons that can be further utilized in later stages of cellular respiration. While carbon dioxide is produced during the complete oxidation of glucose in aerobic respiration, it is not a primary outcome of glycolysis itself. Likewise, ATP formation occurs as part of the pathway, but it is not the sole focus or primary product. Lastly, the conversion of lactate to glucose is related to gluconeogenesis, which is a different metabolic pathway that occurs mainly in the liver, rather than a direct outcome of glycolysis. Thus, the emphasis on the direct products of glycolysis highlights the conversion of glucose to py