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Autotroph

An organism that is capable of producing its own food.

Heterotroph

An organism that obtains energy by consuming other organisms.

Phosphorylation

The process of adding a phosphate molecule onto a molecule.

ATP

Adenosine triphosphate, a molecule that transports different molecules across cell membranes and stores energy in its third phosphate bond.

NAD+

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, a molecule that temporarily stores energy during cellular respiration.

Oxidized

The process of losing electrons.

Reduction

The process of gaining electrons.

Glycolysis

The first step of cellular respiration, which occurs in the cytosol and involves the partial oxidation of glucose.

Endergonic

A reaction that consumes energy.

Exergonic

A reaction that releases energy.

Pyruvate Oxidation

The process in which pyruvate produced from glycolysis is further oxidized in the mitochondrial matrix.

Citric Acid Cycle

Also known as the Krebs cycle, it occurs in the mitochondrial matrix and oxidizes the acetyl group into two molecules of CO2.

Oxidative Phosphorylation

The process that occurs in the electron transport chain, where NADH is oxidized to NAD+ and O2 is reduced to H2O, resulting in the production of ATP.

Fermentation

An anaerobic process that helps recycle NAD+ and produces a small yield of ATP.

Lactic Acid Fermentation

A type of fermentation that produces lactic acid as a byproduct and regenerates NAD+.

Alcoholic Fermentation

A type of fermentation that produces ethyl alcohol and CO2 as byproducts.