Glucose is not readily available in the diets of most heterotrophs. So, how do organisms combat this to still go through glycolysis for ? Organisms, like humans, will obtain most of their daily calories from food in the
forms of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. The catabolism of these molecules will allow for their monomers to enter
glycolysis and the citric acid cycle.
What happens in the absence of food? Starvation will ocuur and it will lead to significant weight loss. In fact, people
can lose up to 10 pounds per week with no food consumption. This dramatic and life threatening weight loss is due
to the inability to receive the nutrients needed from food to go through glycolysis and the subsequent steps of
cellular respiration. a) In the case of starvation, identify the macromolecule being catabolized by the body to power
cellular respiration. b) Identify the monomers of the macromolecule identified in part (a). Connect your answer from
part (a) to justify how this leads to dramatic weight loss in people who are starving.