Biology Times (^19)
March
Amphibolic Pathway
Glucose is the most favoured substrate for respiration. Other substrates can also be respired but they also
do not enter the respiratory pathway at the first step. Respiratory process involves both catabolism and
anabolism, as breakdown and synthesis of substrates are involved. Hence respiratory pathway is considered
as a amphibolic pathway rather than a catabolic pathway.
Respiratory Quotient
Respiratory Quotient (R.Q) is the ratio of volume
of CO 2 evolved to the volume of O 2 consumed in
respiration over a period of time.
Some conditions of R.Q are as follows:
(i) When carbohydrates are used as substrates and
are completely oxidised, the R.Q. will be