Question

How do cells get ATP, the energy currency that does work in living things?

Answer 1

In living organisms, cells get ATP from cellular respiration of organic molecules (such as glucose).

Explanation:

During respiration, the organic molecules are broken down. The cells capture the energy from the broken down molecules and use it to generate high-energy bonds known as ATP.

There is a cycle between ATP and ADP. Remember that ATP stands for Adenosine Tri-phosphate and ADP is Adenosine Di-phosphate. ADP turns into ATP when a phosphate molecule (released after respiration of the organic molecule) attaches to it (thus it gets the Triphosphate name). When cells need the energy molecule, the ATP releases the phosphate and loses it and now becomes ADP (thus the Diphosphate name).