All life from the simplest bacteria to the most complex life forms rely on cellular chemical activity. The number of biochemical pathways and associated compounds has been estimated at well in excess of 100,000. To run all of these processes and make all of these compounds, cells need energy.

The energy coinage for most organisms is adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The cleavage of the high energy phosphate linkage provides about 7.5 kcal or 30 kJ per mole of ATP. The adult human body makes and uses about 77 lb (35 kg) of ATP per day. This is slightly over 40% of the average male adult body mass. And, all of this ATP is synthesized in a simple organelle within the cells called the mitochondria.

The process for the synthesis of ATP is respiration. The end products are the consumption of glucose and oxygen to produce water and carbon dioxide. However, it is by no means...