From how many ATP molecules is the gross yield produced from one glucose molecule?

The gross yield produced from one glucose molecule during cellular respiration is typically considered to be either 36 or 38 ATP molecules, depending on the organism and the specifics of the process.

In eukaryotic cells, the complete oxidation of one glucose molecule during glycolysis, the citric acid cycle (Krebs cycle), and oxidative phosphorylation can theoretically yield a maximum of 38 ATP when considering the direct electron transport chain contributions and substrate-level phosphorylation. However, because two of these ATPs are used for the transport of NADH produced during glycolysis into the mitochondria, the net yield is usually cited as 36 ATP in mammalian cells.

This variation highlights that while different textbooks and sources might give different values, the most widely accepted gross yield for ATP from one glucose molecule is often cited as 36 to 38, depending on whether the yield is calculated in terms of total energy potential or after accounting for the transport costs. Thus, while the option presented as 40 ATP is not accurate based on standard biological consensus, it’s important to recognize the typical range of yields when studying cellular respiration.