Which of the following statements about anabolic pathways is true?
A) They are usually spontaneous chemical reactions.
B) They consume energy to build up polymers from monomers.
C) They release energy by degrading polymers to monomers.
D) They decrease the entropy of the organism and its environment.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Anabolic pathways involve building up polymers from monomers, which requires an input of energy. This is the opposite of catabolic pathways, which break down polymers into monomers and release energy. Therefore, statement B is correct. Statement A is incorrect because anabolic reactions usually require an input of energy, and therefore are not spontaneous. Statement C is incorrect because it describes a catabolic pathway. Statement D is incorrect because the decrease in entropy that occurs during anabolic pathways is compensated for by an increase in entropy elsewhere in the system, so the overall entropy of the organism and its environment is not necessarily decreased.

Which of the Following Statements About Anabolic Pathways Is True