The stage of cellular respiration that occurs in the presence of oxygen and produces ATP and NADH while releasing CO2 is the Krebs cycle (also known as the citric acid cycle or TCA cycle).
Here’s a brief overview of the processes:
- Glycolysis: Occurs in the cytoplasm, produces a small amount of ATP and NADH, but does not release CO2.
- Krebs Cycle: Takes place in the mitochondrial matrix, produces ATP, NADH, and FADH2, and releases CO2 as a byproduct.
- Electron Transport Chain: Occurs in the inner mitochondrial membrane, primarily produces ATP but does not produce NADH or release CO2.
- Fermentation: An anaerobic process that occurs in the absence of oxygen, does not produce CO2 and generally results in less ATP than aerobic respiration.
Thus, the correct answer is the Krebs cycle.