ATP synthesis by oxidative phosphorylation will stop.
Explanation:
Cyanide inhibits cytochrome oxidase that passes electrons to the molecule oxygen. Cytochrome oxidase also pumps two protons from the matrix to the intermembrane space during electron transfer. Inhibition of cytochrome oxidase would not allow the transfer of electrons to oxygen and the whole electron transport chain would be stopped. There would not be any generation of proton concentration gradient to drive the process of ATP synthesis. Hence, ATP synthesis by oxidative phosphorylation will be stopped after cyanide poisoning in aerobic cells.
I believe the correct answer to the question is D. This answer choice makes the most sense given the context. Also, since RNA is less stable than DNA, it mutates more often.
