Which of the following describes cellular respiration?

Cellular respiration is a metabolic process that occurs in organisms to convert biochemical energy from nutrients into adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is then used for energy by cells. The correct choice accurately describes this process as it involves the breakdown of glucose (C6H12O6). During aerobic respiration, glucose is oxidized in the presence of oxygen, which results in the generation of ATP along with byproducts such as carbon dioxide and water. This process is vital for providing the energy required for numerous cellular activities.

The other choices do not accurately depict cellular respiration. The breakdown of carbon dioxide into glucose is not a metabolic process that occurs in respiration; rather, this occurs in photosynthesis, where plants convert CO2 into glucose using sunlight. The production of ATP without oxygen refers to anaerobic respiration or fermentation, which is a different process from aerobic cellular respiration. Lastly, the conversion of glucose into fatty acids is a form of biosynthesis, which is not part of the cellular respiration process but rather an anabolic pathway that stores energy. Thus, the option highlighting the breakdown of glucose during aerobic metabolism is the most accurate description of cellular respiration.