Biology / Unit 3 Bio 0560 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Fermentation, Defined
Captions available
The idea
Fermentation regenerates NAD+ from NADH using an organic molecule as electron acceptor, letting glycolysis continue without any electron transport chain.
In practice
A red blood cell, lacking mitochondria entirely, ferments pyruvate into lactate to regenerate the NAD+ glycolysis needs, with no oxygen or transport chain involved.
Where people slip
Fermentation's only job is recycling NAD+ — it adds no ATP beyond glycolysis's original two.
Your place on the trail
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