what are the characteristics of glycolysis that indicate that it is an ancient metabolic pathway?
Glycolysis is a series of reactions that and extract energy from glucose by splitting it into two three-carbon molecules called pyruvates. Glycolysis is an ancient metabolic pathway, meaning that it evolved long ago, and it is found in the great majority of organisms alive today2,3^{2,3}â2,3ââstart superscript, 2, comma, 3, end superscript. In organisms that perform cellular respiration, glycolysis is the first stage of this process. However, glycolysis doesnât require oxygen, and many anaerobic organismsâorganisms that do not use oxygenâalso have this pathway.