Critical Thinking question # 3 / chapter 3 "Cells"

CRITICAL THINKING QUESTION # 3 / CHAPTER 3
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CRITICAL THINKING QUESTION # 3 / CHAPTER 3
Carbohydrates, fats, and proteins are critically important in providing the body with the needed fuel for synthesizing adenosine triphosphate (ATP), an energy compound used in cellular respiration. Excess proteins can be converted into carbohydrates and fats, which are used by the electron transport system to make ATP, the energy currency in the body (Starr & McMillan, 2010). Alternatively, during exercise and starvation, the body can use stored fats that contain triglycerides in adipose tissues to produce ATP. The triglycerides are usually broken down into fatty acids and glycerol and since fatty acids contain many carbon-bound hydrogen atoms, it yields more ATP molecules than glucose. However, nucleic acids are not used to generate energy because it serves as the blueprint for a functioning cellular...