Which of the following statements about anaerobic respiration is TRUE?

• A. Anaerobic respiration and fermentation are identical processes.
• B. Anaerobic respiration uses an electron transport chain but does not use oxygen as the final electron acceptor.
• C. Anaerobic respiration produces more ATP than aerobic respiration.
• D. Anaerobic respiration occurs only in animal cells.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Begin by understanding the concept of anaerobic respiration. Anaerobic respiration is a type of cellular respiration that occurs in the absence of oxygen. Unlike aerobic respiration, it uses a molecule other than oxygen as the final electron acceptor in the electron transport chain.
2. Step 2: Compare anaerobic respiration to fermentation. While both processes occur in the absence of oxygen, they are not identical. Fermentation does not use an electron transport chain, whereas anaerobic respiration does.
3. Step 3: Analyze the statement about ATP production. Anaerobic respiration produces less ATP compared to aerobic respiration because the absence of oxygen limits the efficiency of the electron transport chain.
4. Step 4: Evaluate the claim that anaerobic respiration occurs only in animal cells. This is incorrect because anaerobic respiration can occur in various organisms, including bacteria, fungi, and some plants, not just animal cells.
5. Step 5: Confirm the correct statement: Anaerobic respiration uses an electron transport chain but does not use oxygen as the final electron acceptor. This aligns with the definition and mechanism of anaerobic respiration.