Intro to Metabolism terms

Question 1

metabolism

Answer 1

the totality of an organism’s chemical reactions, consisting of catabolic and anabolic pathways, which manage the material and energy resources of an organism.

Question 2

emergent property

Question 3

reductionism

Question 4

metabolic pathway

Answer 4

a series of chemical reactions that either builds a complex molecule (anabolic pathway) or breaks down a complex molecule to simpler molecules (catabolic pathway).

Question 5

chain pathway

Answer 5

a linear metabolic pathway that beings and ends with different molecules.

Question 6

cycle pathway

Answer 6

a circular metabolic pathway that eventually reverts back?

Question 7

catabolic pathway

Answer 7

a metabolic pathway that releases energy by breaking down a complex molecule into a simpler one.

Question 8

anabolic pathway

Answer 8

a metabolic pathway that consumes energy to synthesize a complex molecule from simpler molecules.

Question 9

energy (kinetic, potential,
thermal, chemical)

Answer 9

the capacity to cause change or to do work which includes potential: energy that matter possesses as a result of its location, chemical: a form of potential energy available for reactants to release in a chemical reaction, kinetic: energy in motion, thermal: the random motion of atom & molecules

Question 10

thermodynamics

Answer 10

the study of energy transformation in a collection of matter

Question 11

isolated (closed) and open systems

Answer 11

a system’s ability to exchange energy and matter with its surrounding, if isolated, the system cannot exchange, if open, system will such as living organisms.

Question 12

first law of thermodynamics

Answer 12

energy is neither created nor destroyed; but can be transferred or transformed into potential, kinetic etc.

Question 13

second law of thermodynamics

Answer 13

the natural world has a tendency to increase in disorder or entropy after energy transfers or transformations occur

Question 14

entropy

Answer 14

energy spreading out which decreases the ability to perform work

Question 15

free energy

Answer 15

energy available to do work in a cell which can predict whether the reaction is exergonic or endergonic.

Question 16

spontaneous processes

Answer 16

a process that occurs without an overall input of energy that may or may not occur instantaneously; also increases entropy.

Question 17

exergonic reactions

Answer 17

a spontaneous chemical reaction in which there is a net release of free energy.

Question 18

endergonic reactions

Answer 18

a nonspontaneous chemical reaction in which free energy is absorbed from the surroundings.

Question 19

energy coupling

Answer 19

when the energy released from an exergonic reaction such as the hydrolysis of ATP can be then used in endergonic reaction since these require energy

Question 20

electron transport chain

Question 21

equilibrium

Answer 21

occurs when an isolated system reaches equal reverse and forward rates.

Question 22

phosphorylated intermediate

Answer 22

a molecule (often a reactant) with a phosphate group covalently bound to it, making it more reactive (less stable) than the unphosphorylated molecule.

Question 23

enzyme

Answer 23

proteins that work as a catalyst in order to carry out metabolic pathways.

Question 24

catalyst

Answer 24

a chemical agent that selectively increases the rate of a reaction without being consumed by the reaction such as enzymes.

Question 25

activation energy

Answer 25

the amount of energy that reactants must absorb before a chemical reaction will start; also called free energy of activation.