What type of respiration occurs in the absence of oxygen?

Anaerobic respiration occurs in the absence of oxygen and is a process that allows cells to generate energy when oxygen is not available. During this type of respiration, glucose is partially broken down to release energy, resulting in byproducts such as lactic acid (in animals) or ethanol and carbon dioxide (in yeast). This is crucial for survival in environments where oxygen is scarce, allowing organisms to keep producing energy even when aerobic pathways are not accessible.

In contrast, aerobic respiration requires oxygen and involves the complete breakdown of glucose to produce carbon dioxide, water, and a significant amount of energy. Cellular respiration encompasses both aerobic and anaerobic processes, but the specific process that is oxygen-independent is anaerobic respiration. Lastly, oxidative phosphorylation is a component of aerobic respiration involving the electron transport chain and requires oxygen to produce ATP, further distinguishing it from anaerobic pathways.