What is the primary outcome of glycolysis under anaerobic conditions?

Under anaerobic conditions, glycolysis primarily leads to the production of pyruvate and the recycling of NAD+. When glucose undergoes glycolysis, it is broken down into two molecules of pyruvate, which is a crucial intermediate in cellular metabolism. In an anaerobic environment, where oxygen is not available for further oxidation, pyruvate does not enter the citric acid cycle. Instead, it can be converted into lactate (in animals) or ethanol and carbon dioxide (in yeast), depending on the organism.

Additionally, during glycolysis, NAD+ is reduced to NADH. For glycolysis to continue producing ATP under anaerobic conditions, NADH must be oxidized back to NAD+. This recycling of NAD+ is essential because it allows glycolysis to persist in the absence of oxygen by enabling the continuation of ATP production through substrate-level phosphorylation, albeit at a much lower yield compared to aerobic respiration.

Therefore, the primary outcome of glycolysis under anaerobic conditions encompasses both the production of pyruvate and the recycling of NAD+, making the combined choice the correct response.