What happens during the process of fermentation?

During the process of fermentation, cells convert glucose into energy without the presence of oxygen. This anaerobic pathway allows organisms to generate ATP when oxygen is scarce or unavailable.

In fermentation, glucose undergoes glycolysis to produce pyruvate, which is then converted into other compounds like lactic acid or ethanol, depending on the type of fermentation. This process allows for the regeneration of NAD+, which is crucial for glycolysis to continue, thereby enabling continued ATP production even in the absence of oxygen.

Unlike aerobic respiration, where glucose is fully oxidized to carbon dioxide and energy is maximized, fermentation is less efficient. However, it serves as an important metabolic pathway that allows anaerobic organisms and some cells within multicellular organisms to survive and produce energy in low-oxygen conditions.