Question

Compare aerobic and anaerobic respiration with fermentation in general? Discuss the importance of each process? Explain why an understanding of the biochemical processes of fermentation is so important in biotechnology?

Answer 1

Aerobic respiration is the process of breaking down of the glucose molecule in the presence of oxygen to make energy.  

Anaerobic respiration is the process of breaking down of the glucose molecule to make energy in the absence of oxygen.

Fermentation is a metabolic process usually involving a microorganism, of breaking down of a substance into simpler substances like the breaking down of carbohydrates and making them into alcohol. It doesn't need the presence of oxygen.

Aerobic respiration is very important in the case of cells which require energy. It can produce 36 ATP molecules from a single glucose molecule.

Anaerobic respiration is also very important in the case where cells need energy but oxygen is not available. It can produce 2 ATP molecules from a single glucose molecule.

Fermentation is very very important. By fermentation, we get alcohol. Also, fermentation makes food easier to digest. It doesn't need heat, so nutrients such as some vitamins which are destroyed by heat are still present in the food after fermentation. Without fermentation there won't be any alcoholic beverages. Biopolymers such as gelatin, cellulose, starch etc. are produced by fermentation which is important in biotechnology. Also some antibiotics are produced by fermentation. Fermentation comes in handy in waste water treatment using bacteria.