What is the Krebs Cycle?
The Krebs Cycle, also known as the citric acid cycle or tricarboxylic acid cycle, is a series of chemical reactions in all aerobic organisms (organisms that utilize oxygen in cellular respiration). It has many extremely important roles in the cell: it breaks down organic molecules to generate energy in the form of ATP (adenoside triphosphate) and provides the precursors to certain compounds, including amino acids. In eukaryotes, this process takes place within the mitochondria; in prokaryotes, it occurs in the cytoplasm. For a detailed look at the mechanism of the Krebs Cycle, see http://en.wikipedia.
The Krebs cycle, also known as the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA), was first recognized in 1937 by the man for whom it is named, German biochemist, Hans Adolph Krebs. His highly detailed and extensive research in the field of cellular metabolism and other scientific endeavors gleaned him the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1953. In short, the Krebs cycle constitutes the discovery of the major source of energy in all living organisms. The Krebs cycle refers specifically to a complex series of chemical reactions in all cells that utilize oxygen as part of their respiration process. This includes those cells of creatures from the higher animal kingdom, such as humans. The Krebs cycle produces carbon dioxide and a compound rich in energy, Adenosine triphosphate (ATP). This chemical provides cells with the energy required for the synthesis of proteins from amino acids and the replication of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Within the Krebs cycle, energy in the form of ATP is usually d
