Which of the following statements regarding fermentation is correct?

• A. Fermentation involves the electron transport chain to generate ATP.
• B. Fermentation generates ATP exclusively through substrate-level phosphorylation.
• C. Fermentation produces more ATP per glucose molecule than aerobic respiration.
• D. Fermentation requires oxygen as the final electron acceptor.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the definition of fermentation. Fermentation is a metabolic process that converts sugar to acids, gases, or alcohol in the absence of oxygen.
2. Step 2: Recall how ATP is generated during fermentation. Unlike aerobic respiration, fermentation does not use the electron transport chain; instead, ATP is produced solely through substrate-level phosphorylation.
3. Step 3: Analyze the role of the electron transport chain. Since fermentation occurs without oxygen, it does not involve the electron transport chain, which is a key component of aerobic respiration.
4. Step 4: Compare ATP yield between fermentation and aerobic respiration. Fermentation produces less ATP per glucose molecule compared to aerobic respiration because it relies only on substrate-level phosphorylation.
5. Step 5: Consider the requirement of oxygen in fermentation. Fermentation is an anaerobic process and does not require oxygen as the final electron acceptor; instead, organic molecules serve this role.