Humber Admissions Practice Test

In what part of the cell does glycolysis occur?

1. In the mitochondria

2. In the nucleus

3. In the cytoplasm

4. In the endoplasmic reticulum

The correct answer is: In the cytoplasm

Glycolysis is a metabolic pathway that breaks down glucose to produce energy in the form of ATP. This process occurs in the cytoplasm of the cell. The cytoplasm provides the necessary environment and enzymes required for glycolysis to take place. During glycolysis, glucose undergoes a series of chemical transformations through the action of specific enzymes, resulting in the production of pyruvate, ATP, and NADH. Since glycolysis does not require oxygen, it can occur in both aerobic and anaerobic conditions, making the cytoplasm an ideal site for this crucial step of cellular respiration. The other options refer to organelles or areas within the cell that have different functions. For example, the mitochondria are involved in aerobic respiration, where pyruvate produced in glycolysis is further processed. The nucleus houses genetic material and is not involved in glycolysis. The endoplasmic reticulum is primarily involved in the synthesis of proteins and lipids and also does not play a role in the glycolytic pathway. Therefore, the cytoplasm is the correct location for glycolysis to occur.