What is the main purpose of cellular respiration?

The primary purpose of cellular respiration is to release energy from food molecules. This biochemical process occurs in both plants and animals and involves breaking down organic compounds, primarily glucose, to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which serves as the main energy currency of the cell.

During cellular respiration, glucose is oxidized, and this oxidation process generates ATP through a series of metabolic pathways, including glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, and electron transport chain. The energy stored in glucose bonds is converted into a usable form (ATP), which powers various cellular activities, from muscle contraction to biosynthesis.

Although the other options may involve cellular functions, they do not encapsulate the central objective of cellular respiration. For instance, while plants do produce oxygen during photosynthesis, it is not the purpose of cellular respiration. Similarly, while protein synthesis and glucose storage are vital processes within the cell, they do not define the aim of cellular respiration, which focuses solely on energy release for cellular activities.