I need some help with a take home study quiz. Here is the question:

Which of the following biochemical pathways does NOT require oxygen?

Glycosis
Matrix Reactions
Electron Transport system
Fermintation
Glycosis and fermintation

At first I thought it was Electron Transport system... But then I second guessed myself only because respiration is where electrons are donated to an exogenous electron acceptor, such as oxygen, via an electron transport chain.

I considered Fermintation as the answer, but Fermentation does not necessarily have to be carried out in an anaerobic environment. For example, even in the presence of abundant oxygen, yeast cells greatly prefer fermentation to oxidative phosphorylation, as long as sugars are readily. And Fermentation products contain chemical energy, but are considered waste products since they cannot be metabolized further without the use of oxygen. But that is only fermintation products.. I know Fermentation occurs in mammalian muscle during periods of intense exercise where oxygen supply becomes limited, resulting in the creation of lactic acid.


Can any tell me if I am on the right path, or if I have over looked something? Thanks!

Definitely not Glycosis.


It occurs, with variations, in nearly all organisms, both aerobic and anaerobic.

I'm positive for fermentation still. Fermentation can occur in the presence of oxygen, but still, the process does not require/use oxygen

I got something about ET system/chain (weird contraction :p)


This is usually done through an electron transport chain in a process called oxidative phosphorylation; however, this mechanism is not available without oxygen.

Last, I didn't get Matrix Reactions, not clear cut info, that is I didn't get anything that would convince me.

Hmm Ok thanks Unky. I keep going back to Fermintation now too. I think you are right!

I am almost 100% certain it is not Matrix Reactions.

Well, in any case, keep us informed when you get the answers, I'd like to double check :)

What does this study relate to ?

It's a biology class I am taking. Biochemistry is the study of chemical processes in living organisms. It's questions that are supposed to be on the exam. Thankfuly this section is only a small section of what we will be studying, and this is actually supposed to be a brush up from what we learned in grade 12 (6 years ago for me), but I do not remember taking this stuff. :s