What is the Difference Between Fermentation and Glycolysis?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚Fermentation and glycolysis are both processes involved in the conversion of complex molecules such as sugars and carbohydrates into simpler forms. However, they differ in several aspects:
- Definition: Fermentation is a metabolic process that converts sugar into acids, gases, or alcohol, while glycolysis is an enzymatic breakdown of carbohydrates.
- Oxygen Usage: Fermentation does not use oxygen, making it an anaerobic process, whereas glycolysis can be anaerobic or aerobic.
- Types: There are two types of fermentation, alcoholic fermentation and lactic acid fermentation, while glycolysis can be divided into aerobic glycolysis and anaerobic glycolysis.
- ATP Yield: No energy is gained during fermentation, while glycolysis produces 2 ATP molecules.
- Pyruvate Fate: In fermentation, pyruvate is converted into waste products like lactic acid or ethanol, while in glycolysis, pyruvate is further processed in the citric acid cycle for energy generation.
Glycolysis is the initial step in the breakdown of glucose, producing pyruvate, ATP, and NADH. Fermentation, on the other hand, starts with glycolysis but does not involve the latter two stages of aerobic cellular respiration (the Krebs cycle and oxidative phosphorylation).
Comparative Table: Fermentation vs Glycolysis
Here is a table comparing the differences between fermentation and glycolysis:
Feature | Glycolysis | Fermentation |
---|---|---|
Definition | Enzymes disintegrate carbohydrate | Metabolic process converting sugars into gases, alcohol, or acids |
Stages | Aerobic glycolysis and anaerobic glycolysis | Lactic acid fermentation and alcoholic fermentation |
ATP Production | Produces two molecules of ATP | No energy is gained |
Pyruvate Fate | Produces pyruvic acid for the generation of energy | It is converted into a waste product |
Oxygen Requirement | Can occur in the absence or presence of oxygen | Occurs in the absence of oxygen |
Microorganisms | Does not involve bacteria or yeast | Involves bacteria or yeast |
Glycolysis is a process that breaks down complex molecules into simpler forms and converts sugars into usable substances. It does not involve bacteria or yeast and can occur in the absence or presence of oxygen. Fermentation, on the other hand, requires bacteria or yeast and only occurs in the absence of oxygen. While glycolysis produces two ATP molecules, fermentation does not produce any energy.
- Glycolysis vs Glycogenolysis
- Krebs Cycle vs Glycolysis
- Ethanol Fermentation vs Lactic Acid Fermentation
- Aerobic vs Anaerobic Glycolysis
- Oxidation vs Fermentation
- Fermentation vs Anaerobic Respiration
- Aerobic vs Anaerobic Fermentation
- Glycolysis vs Gluconeogenesis
- Fermentation vs Respiration
- Glycolysis vs TCA Cycle
- Sugar Assimilation vs Fermentation
- Cytosolic vs Chloroplastic Glycolysis
- Pentose Phosphate Pathway vs Glycolysis
- Lactic Acid vs Alcoholic Fermentation
- Homolactic vs Heterolactic Fermentation
- Glycolysis Krebs Cycle vs Electron Transport Chain
- Glycogenolysis vs Gluconeogenesis
- Bioreactor vs Fermentor
- Fermentation vs Putrefaction