Biology 1202B Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Nitrogenous Base, Exergonic Reaction, Chemical Energy
26 Mar 2017
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4. 3a life does not go against the second law of thermodynamics. Organisms can stay highly organized because they are an open system and are consistently consuming energy and matter to keep their state at a low entropy. Organisms give off heat, water and carbon dioxide which increases the entropy of their surroundings. In summary, organisms can only maintain a low state of entropy because the entropy of their surroundings are always increasing. Organisms need to consistently consume matter & energy because cellular components are constantly breaking down. (i. e. organelles, proteins): 4. 3b the flow of energy through the biosphere. The biosphere relies on the light from the sun (photons) as an energy source. Photosynthesis transforms light energy into chemical energy, which allows it to enter the biosphere. Metabolism the biochemical reactions that allow a cell or organism to extract energy from its surroundings and use that energy to maintain itself, grow, and reproduce.
