What is the process by which cells convert glucose into energy called?

The process by which cells convert glucose into energy is known as cellular respiration. This metabolic pathway involves a series of reactions that break down glucose in the presence of oxygen to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy currency of the cell. Cellular respiration includes several key stages: glycolysis, the citric acid cycle (Krebs cycle), and oxidative phosphorylation (electron transport chain and chemiosmosis).

Glycolysis, which is an important initial step in cellular respiration, occurs in the cytoplasm and converts glucose into pyruvate, producing a small amount of ATP and NADH in the process. However, glycolysis is just the first stage of cellular respiration and does not encompass the full conversion of glucose to energy.

Photosynthesis is the process by which plants, algae, and some bacteria convert light energy into chemical energy in the form of glucose, and thus is unrelated to the conversion of glucose into energy by cells. Fermentation is an alternative process that occurs in the absence of oxygen and allows cells to produce energy from glucose anaerobically, typically resulting in byproducts like ethanol or lactic acid rather than using the more efficient aerobic processes.

In summary, while glycolysis is a component of cellular respiration, it