Is it possible for a cell to survive in oxygen deficient condition?

2 Answers
Mar 1, 2017

Please note that cellular respiration does not always mean oxygen dependent aerobic respiration, as cells may also perform anaerobic respiration.

Explanation:

There are cells which generate #"ATP"# without using oxygen such as anaerobic bacteria of gut or red blood cells of our blood.

In oxygen insufficient condition, an aerobic cell will not immediately die: it will generate some #"ATP"# through anaerobic respiration and survive. In that case, accumulation of unusual wastes in cell causes toxicity. The condition could be reversed if oxygen is supplied to the system as soon as possible.

Mar 10, 2017

Aerobic respiration refers to the cell's effort to break down glucose in an effort to make ATP with the presence of oxygen.

Explanation:

In Aerobic respiration, oxygen acts as the final electron acceptor for NADH and FADH2 to give up their electrons, forming NAD+ and FADH. This is required in both glycolysis, pyruvate oxidation and the Krebs cycle to function. Hence, no oxygen means that no electrons are transferred and thus NAD+ and FADH does not exist and these processes are unable to occur.