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Very Short Answer Questions · Q1

Q.Define metabolism.

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[!ANSWER] Metabolism is the sum total of all the biochemical reactions (catabolism and anabolism) occurring inside a living cell or organism.

Every living cell is a site of uninterrupted chemical activity. Catabolic reactions break down complex molecules into simpler ones, releasing usable energy, while anabolic reactions use that energy to build up complex molecules (proteins, nucleic acids, lipids) needed for the cell's structure and function. This constant chemical turnover is a defining feature of a living system — it is present in every cell, at every moment the organism is alive, and it stops only at death.

Metabolism is used, along with growth, as one of the two working criteria for recognising life. However, it is worth noting that isolated enzymes taken out of a cell can also catalyse a biochemical reaction in a test tube (in vitro), so metabolism by itself is a necessary but not a fully sufficient test for "life" — it must be considered together with growth (see the next question) for a workable definition.

[!ANSWER] Metabolism is the sum total of all the biochemical reactions (catabolism and anabolism) occurring inside a living cell or organism — a continuous, uninterrupted process that stops only when the organism dies.

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