Cell metabolism
Metabolism
is the set of chemical reactions that occur in living organisms in
order to maintain life. These processes allow organisms to grow and
reproduce, maintain their structures, and respond to their
environments. Metabolism is usually divided into two categories:
anabolism and catabolism. Anabolism is the process of construction
of cellular components such as proteins and nucleic acids.
Catabolism is the process of breaking down large molecules. For
example, complex sugars consumed by an organism can be broken down
into a less chemically complex sugar molecule called glucose. The
metabolism of an organism determines which substances are nutritious
for it and which are not.
Ex.
15. Read and translate the following word-combinations, find them in
the text and use in sentences of your own:
Cellular components
complex
sugar
Nutritious substances
chemical
reactions
to
maintain structures
to
determine substances
to
divide into categories
to
occur in living organisms
to
respond to environment
to
consume sugars
Ex.
16. Ask any 5 questions to the text and use the answers to make a
brief summary.
7