Would a bacterial cell likely prefer aerobic respiration or anaerobic fermentation? Defend your answer by comparing the potential energy output in both scenarios.

The bacterial cell would most likely prefer aerobic respiration

Explanation:

The two processes (aerobic and anaerobic respiration) both involves the breakdown of glucose through the process of glycolysis. In anaerobic fermentation, glucose is converted to pyruvate which is then fermented to either produce lactic acid or ethanol. In either of these fermentation processes, just two molecules of ATP/energy is produced.

However, during aerobic respiration, after glucose is metabolized through the glycolytic pathway, the pyruvate formed is either converted to acetyl coA (which serves an "entry" into the tricarboxylic acid cycle, TCA cycle) or oxaloacetate which also enters the TCA cycle. Energy precursors produced in this TCA then undergo oxidative phosphorylation which phosphorylates ADP to ATP. About 38 ATPs are produced in the entirety of these steps and pathways under aerobic respiration. Thus, a bacterial cell would likely prefer aerobic respiration based on potential energy output.

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