Biology Quiz: Metabolism and Enzymes

Standard Deviation

• Measures how data points are spread out from the mean
• Low standard deviation: data points are clustered around the mean
• High standard deviation: data points are spread further from the mean

Metabolism

• The sum of all chemical reactions within an organism
• Three main functions:
  • Conversion of energy from food
  • Conversion of food into building blocks (proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, carbohydrates)
  • Elimination of metabolic waste
• Divided into catabolic and anabolic reactions:
  • Catabolic: Breakdown of molecules, releases energy
  • Anabolic: Building of molecules, requires energy

Enzymes

• Proteins that speed up (catalyze) metabolic reactions
• Most metabolic reactions are enzyme-catalyzed

Photosynthesis

• Process by which green plants and some organisms transform light energy into chemical energy
• Plants convert light energy into oxygen and glucose, using water and carbon dioxide

Cellular Respiration

• Process of breaking down glucose through chemical reactions to produce ATP, which is used as energy by the body
• Occurs in cells of all living organisms, including plants
• Can be aerobic (requires oxygen) or anaerobic (does not require oxygen)

Fermentation

• Metabolic process that converts chemical energy from carbohydrates into ATP without oxygen
• Occurs in:
  • Certain microorganisms
  • Skeletal muscles when oxygen is lacking
  • Red blood cells
  • Internal parasites
• Less efficient than respiration, but includes processes like ethanol and lactic acid fermentation, used industrially

Energy from the Sun

• Sunlight is the primary source of energy for life on Earth
• Sunlight allows plants to use photosynthesis to create organic compounds, which are then used as energy by consumers (animals)
• Organisms are connected through food chains and food webs, with food webs encompassing all food chains in an ecosystem

Standard Deviation

• A measure of data dispersion relative to the mean.
• Low standard deviation indicates data clusters tightly around the mean.
• High standard deviation indicates data is more spread out.

Metabolism

• The sum of all chemical reactions in organisms.
• Three primary functions:
  • Energy conversion from food to usable energy.
  • Conversion of food into building blocks like proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates.
  • Elimination of metabolic waste.
• Classified into catabolic and anabolic reactions:
  • Catabolic reactions break down molecules, releasing energy.
  • Anabolic reactions build up molecules, requiring energy.

Enzymes

• Most metabolic reactions are enzyme-catalyzed.
• Enzymes are proteins that accelerate chemical reactions in the body.

Photosynthesis

• The process by which green plants and some organisms convert light energy into chemical energy.
• Plants use light energy, water, and carbon dioxide to produce oxygen and glucose.

Cellular Respiration

• The breakdown of glucose through a series of chemical reactions to produce ATP, the energy currency of the body.
• Occurs in all living organisms, including plants.
• Respiration can be aerobic (requiring oxygen) or anaerobic (not requiring oxygen).

Fermentation

• A metabolic process that converts carbohydrate chemical energy into ATP without oxygen.
• Occurs in microorganisms, skeletal muscles during oxygen deprivation, red blood cells, and internal parasites.
• Less efficient than respiration, but includes important processes like ethanol and lactic acid fermentation.
• Widely used in industrial applications.

Energy Flow in Ecosystems

• Sunlight provides the primary energy input for life on Earth.
• Plants use photosynthesis to convert sunlight into organic compounds, serving as energy sources for consumers (e.g., animals).
• Organisms are interconnected through food chains and food webs.
• A food web represents all the food chains within an ecosystem.