Which one of the following reactions occurs in the cristae of the mitochondria?  

A. The prep reaction 
B. Glycolysis 
C. The electron transport chain 
D. The citric acid cycle 

B? 

No, it is not Glycolysis. The correct answer is C.

ORDER!

No, glycolysis does not occur in the cristae of the mitochondria. The correct answer is C. The electron transport chain. The electron transport chain is the final step of cellular respiration and occurs in the inner mitochondrial membrane, specifically in the cristae.

The correct answer is C. The electron transport chain.

To determine the correct answer, we need to understand where each of these reactions occur within the mitochondria.

A. The prep reaction (also known as the pyruvate dehydrogenase reaction) occurs in the mitochondrial matrix, not the cristae. This reaction converts pyruvate, which is produced during glycolysis in the cytoplasm, into acetyl-CoA.

B. Glycolysis occurs in the cytoplasm, not inside the mitochondria. It is the initial step in the breakdown of glucose and produces energy in the form of ATP and NADH.

C. The electron transport chain (also known as the respiratory chain) is the final step of cellular respiration and takes place on the inner mitochondrial membrane, specifically in the cristae. It is responsible for transferring electrons from NADH and FADH2, which are produced during the previous steps of cellular respiration, to oxygen, generating ATP through a process called oxidative phosphorylation.

D. The citric acid cycle (also known as the Krebs cycle) occurs in the mitochondrial matrix, not the cristae. It is the second step of cellular respiration and involves the complete oxidation of acetyl-CoA. This cycle produces several molecules of NADH and FADH2, which are then utilized by the electron transport chain.

Therefore, the correct answer is C. The electron transport chain occurs in the cristae of the mitochondria.