Find out what anaerobic and aerobic respiration are and learn how the reaction occurs in living cells in this BBC Bitesize biology guide.

More information: Lisa M. Keller et al, Simultaneous aerobic and anaerobic respiration in hot spring chemolithotrophic bacteria, Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56418-4.

Anaerobic respiration releases less energy than aerobic respiration but it does this more quickly. The product of this reaction is lactic acid. This builds up in muscles causing pain and tiredness ...