Question

What would happen if all the energy in glucose were released in just one step instead of gradually as it is in cellular respiration? How is the gradual process of cellular respiration advantageous to the cell?

Answer 1

If the energy in glucose was released at once, most of the energy would be lost as light and heat. The light and heat could harm or even destroy the cell. The gradual process of cellular respiration allows the cell to control the release of energy into packages of ATP that can be used efficiently for cell activities.