Fermentation

Question 1

What is Fermentation?

Answer 1

Happens in the Cytoplasm only (without energy).

Question 2

What happens in Animal Cells when Fermentation happens?

Answer 2

Fermentation in animals is the breakdown of glucose in the absence of oxygen.

Glucose → Pyruvate ↔ Lactate

This reaction is reversible, and lactate can be converted back into pyruvate in the presence of oxygen.
It only takes place in the cytoplasm and only releases a small amount of energy, enough to produce only the initial 2 molecules of ATP.

Question 3

What happens in Plant and Fungal Cells when Fermentation happens?

Answer 3

Fermentation in plants and fungal cells is the breakdown of glucose in the absence of oxygen.

Glucose → Pyruvate → Ethanol + Carbon dioxide

This reaction is not reversible due to the loss of carbon dioxide.
It only takes place in the cytoplasm and only releases a small amount of energy, enough to produce only the initial 2 molecules of ATP.