What process do organisms use to convert glucose into energy?

Organisms convert glucose into energy primarily through cellular respiration, a biochemical process that occurs in the cells of living organisms. In this process, glucose, which is a simple sugar and a key source of energy, is broken down in the presence of oxygen to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), water, and carbon dioxide. ATP serves as the main energy currency of the cell, powering various cellular functions.

Cellular respiration can be divided into three main stages: glycolysis, the citric acid cycle (Krebs cycle), and oxidative phosphorylation. During glycolysis, glucose is split into two molecules of pyruvate while generating small amounts of ATP. The pyruvate is then further processed in the citric acid cycle and ultimately leads to the production of a large amount of ATP through oxidative phosphorylation.

This process is essential for aerobic organisms (those that require oxygen) but can also occur anaerobically (without oxygen) through fermentation, which is a different process and typically yields less energy.

While photosynthesis is the process that plants use to convert light energy into chemical energy, digestion involves breaking down food into simpler molecules for absorption but does not directly convert glucose into energy. As such, cellular respiration is the most accurate answer to