A drug is tested in the laboratory and is found to create holes in both mitochondrial membranes. Scientists suspect that the drug will be harmful to human cells because it will inhibit

D) the citric acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation

Explanation:

From the available options:

A) the citric acid cycle.

B) oxidative phosphorylation.

C) glycolysis.

D) the citric acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation

The mitochondrial membrane is a structure that surrounds the matrix of the organelle. The inner membrane of the mitochondrion has proteins that functions in electron transport and synthesis of ATP. Electrons are supplied into the chain from the citric acid cycle that takes place in the matrix.

Hence, if a drug is known to damage mitochondrial membranes, it will affect both the citric acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation accordingly because the the electron generated from citric acid cycle will be redundant and causes the cycle to stop and without the electron transport chain, ATP cannot be synthesized through oxidative phosphorylation.

The correct option is D.