During the process of cellular respiration, what is released as a byproduct?

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During cellular respiration, glucose is broken down to produce energy, and carbon dioxide is released as a byproduct. This process happens in several steps, including glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, and the electron transport chain.

In the Krebs cycle, for instance, acetyl-CoA is further processed, resulting in the production of ATP and the release of carbon dioxide as waste. This carbon dioxide is then transported out of the cells and ultimately exhaled by the organism.

While water, glucose, and lactic acid can also play roles in cellular processes, they are not the primary byproducts of cellular respiration as a whole. Water is produced in the electron transport chain, but carbon dioxide remains the main byproduct across the entire process, reflecting the oxidation of glucose.

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