Most organisms cannot respire without oxygen but some organisms and tissues can continue to respire if the oxygen runs out. These organisms and tissues use the process of anaerobic respiration.
Human muscle can respire anaerobically for short periods of time – even though the process is relatively inefficient, it's better to continue respiring and be able to run away from danger – or run a race.
The glucose in muscle is converted to lactic acid:
glucose → lactic acid + energy released
Some plants, and some fungi such as yeast can respire anaerobically – it's preferable to release less energy but remain alive.
Glucose in yeast cells is converted to carbon dioxide and ethanol, which we refer to simply as 'alcohol':
glucose → ethanol + carbon dioxide + energy released
Anaerobic respiration occurs only in the cytoplasm of cells.
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