Question

Which of the following is true of metabolism in its entirety in all organisms?

Answer 1

The correct answer is: C) Metabolism consists of all the energy transformation reactions in an organism.

Metabolism can be defined as the sum of all chemical reactions that occur in living organisms. The functions of metabolism include:  

• the conversion of food to energy necessary for proper cell function (transformation of the chemical energy stored in food molecules into energy that can be used for cellular processes)

•  the conversion of food to building blocks (amino acids, free fatty acids, nucleotides, monosaccharaides) for macromolecules (proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, carbohydrates)  

• the elimination of nitrogenous wastes.

Reactions of metabolism can be catabolic (breaking down) or anabolic (synthesis) and also spontaneous (energy release) and non-spontaneous (require energy).