Respiration is

Options

A. Anabolic process
B. Physical process
C. Catabolic process
D. Amphibolic process.

Answer

**Step-by-Step Text Solution:**

1. **Understanding Respiration**: Respiration refers to the metabolic processes that occur within cells to convert biochemical energy from nutrients into adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and then release waste products.

2. **Types of Processes**: The question asks to categorize respiration as anabolic, catabolic, physical, or amphibolic.
- **Anabolic** processes build larger molecules from smaller ones.
- **Catabolic** processes break down larger molecules into smaller ones.
- **Physical** processes do not involve chemical changes.
- **Amphibolic** processes involve both anabolic and catabolic reactions.

3. **Respiration as a Catabolic Process**: Primarily, respiration involves the breakdown of glucose into smaller molecules (like pyruvate) and ultimately into carbon dioxide and water. This indicates that respiration is primarily a catabolic process.

4. **Intermediates and Amphibolic Nature**: During respiration, especially in glycolysis and the Krebs cycle, various intermediates are formed. These intermediates can enter other metabolic pathways, indicating that respiration also has an anabolic aspect. Thus, respiration can be classified as amphibolic because it involves both breakdown (catabolic) and synthesis (anabolic) reactions.

5. **Conclusion**: Given the definitions and the processes involved, respiration is best classified as an amphibolic process.

6. **Final Answer**: Therefore, the correct answer to the question is that respiration is an **amphibolic process**.

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