Question

The number of cycles required for complete degradation of Palmitic acid (16 Carbon) by β-oxidation is ...........

Hint:

The number of cycles for complete degradation of a fatty acid by β-oxidation is calculated as \( \frac{n}{2} - 1 \), where \( n \) is the number of carbon atoms in the fatty acid.

Answer 1

Correct Answer: 7

Step 1: Understanding β-oxidation. 
In β-oxidation, fatty acids are broken down into two-carbon units in the form of acetyl-CoA. For a fatty acid with \( n \) carbons, the number of cycles required for complete degradation is given by: \[ \text{Number of cycles} = \frac{n}{2} - 1 \] For palmitic acid (C\(_{16}\)), the number of cycles is: \[ \frac{16}{2} - 1 = 7 \, \text{cycles} \]

Step 2: Conclusion. 
Thus, the correct answer is 7, as it takes 7 cycles of β-oxidation to fully degrade palmitic acid.