NEETBotanyRespiration in Plants
Mature mammalian erythrocytes (RBCs) naturally lack mitochondria. Based on the principles of cellular respiration, which of the following statements correctly describes the respiratory process in these cells?
Options
- AThey carry out aerobic respiration by utilizing specialized cytoplasmic enzymes that substitute for the mitoch
- BTheir entire cellular respiration takes place in the cytoplasm, relying exclusively on glycolysis followed by
- CThey undergo anaerobic respiration in the cytoplasm, converting pyruvate into ethanol and carbon dioxide to re
- DThey do not perform cellular respiration and rely entirely on the passive transport of ATP from the surroundin
Correct answer
B. Their entire cellular respiration takes place in the cytoplasm, relying exclusively on glycolysis followed by
Step-by-step solution
Mitochondria are the sites of aerobic respiration, including the Krebs cycle and the electron transport chain. Since mature mammalian erythrocytes lack mitochondria, they cannot perform aerobic respiration. Consequently, their entire cellular respiration is restricted to the cytoplasm. They rely exclusively on glycolysis to generate ATP, followed by lactic acid fermentation to reoxidize NADH to NAD ⁺ , which is essential for glycolysis to continue. They do not perform alcoholic fermentation (which occurs in yeast)