Metabolism

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Metabolism Noun

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[muh-tab-uh-liz-uhm]

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Metabolism

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The complete set of life-sustaining chemical reactions that occur within the cells of a living organism to maintain life.

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Example: This diagram shows digestion, a part of metabolism, where a large starch molecule (a polysaccharide) is broken down into smaller glucose molecules (monosaccharides).

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Catabolism Noun

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[kuh-tab-uh-liz-uhm]

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Catabolism

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The set of metabolic pathways that breaks down complex molecules into simpler units in order to release stored energy.

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Example: This diagram shows a large glucose molecule being broken down into smaller molecules, releasing energy (ATP), which is the definition of a catabolic process.

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Anabolism Noun

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[uh-nab-uh-liz-uhm]

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Anabolism

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The set of metabolic pathways that construct complex molecules from simpler units, requiring an input of energy to proceed.

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Example: This diagram shows that anabolism is a process where energy is used to combine small, simple molecules into a single, larger, more complex molecule.

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ATP (adenosine triphosphate) Noun

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[uh-den-uh-seen try-fos-feyt]

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ATP (adenosine triphosphate)

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A nucleotide that serves as the universal energy-storage molecule or 'energy currency' used to power cellular processes.

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Example: This image shows that food (like rice) is used by a cell's mitochondrion to produce ATP, which acts as the cell's main energy source.

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Photosynthesis Noun

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[foh-toh-sin-thuh-sis]

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Photosynthesis

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The process used by plants and other organisms to convert light energy into chemical energy stored in glucose molecules.

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Example: A plant leaf uses sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide (CO2) to create its own food (glucose) and releases oxygen (O2) as a byproduct.

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Cellular Respiration Noun

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[sel-yuh-ler res-puh-rey-shuhn]

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Cellular Respiration

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The metabolic process where cells break down glucose in the presence of oxygen to produce ATP for cellular energy.

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Example: This image shows the chemical reaction of cellular respiration, where glucose and oxygen are converted into carbon dioxide, water, and energy (ATP).

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Fermentation Noun

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[fur-men-tey-shuhn]

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Fermentation

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A metabolic process that extracts chemical energy from carbohydrates in the complete absence of oxygen, yielding less ATP.

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Example: This diagram shows how glucose is broken down without oxygen into ethanol and carbon dioxide, a process which releases a small amount of energy (ATP).

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Enzyme Noun

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[en-zahym]

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Enzyme

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A biological catalyst, typically a protein, that significantly speeds up the rate of a specific biochemical reaction.

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Example: This diagram shows an enzyme with a specifically shaped active site that is ready to bind with a matching substrate, similar to a lock and key.

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Amino Acid Noun

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[uh-mee-noh as-id]

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Amino Acid

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An organic molecule containing both carboxyl and amino groups, serving as the fundamental monomer unit of proteins.

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Example: This diagram shows that during digestion, large protein molecules are broken down into their individual building blocks, which are called amino acids.

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Nucleotide Noun

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[noo-klee-uh-tahyd]

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Nucleotide

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An organic molecule composed of a sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base, forming the building blocks of nucleic acids.

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Example: This image shows that a nucleotide is made of three parts: a phosphate group, a deoxyribose sugar, and a nitrogenous base like adenine.