What process involves the conversion of glucose to ATP in cells?

The process that involves the conversion of glucose to ATP in cells is known as respiration. This metabolic pathway encompasses various stages, including glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation. During respiration, glucose is broken down to produce ATP, which is the primary energy currency of the cell.

In aerobic respiration, glucose undergoes glycolysis to form pyruvate, which is then transported into the mitochondria for further processing in the citric acid cycle. This cycle generates electron carriers that are used in the electron transport chain to produce a significant amount of ATP through oxidative phosphorylation. Under anaerobic conditions, cells may resort to fermentation, which also begins with glycolysis and can generate ATP but is less efficient than aerobic respiration.

Photosynthesis is primarily concerned with converting carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen, using sunlight as an energy source. While it produces glucose, it does not directly involve converting glucose into ATP. Glycolysis is indeed part of the respiration process, but it alone does not represent the entire pathway of converting glucose to ATP. Thus, respiration is the correct term that encompasses the whole process of energy extraction from glucose.