Biological systems use free energy based on empirical data that all organisms require a constant energy input. The first law of thermodynamics states that energy can be neither created nor destroyed. For living organisms, which of the following statements is an important consequence of this first law?
A) The energy content of an organism is constant except for when its cells are dividing.
B) The organism must ultimately obtain all the necessary energy for life from its environment.
C) The entropy of an organism decreases with time as the organism grows in complexity.
D) Organisms are unable to transform energy from the different states in which it can exist.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The first law of thermodynamics dictates that energy cannot be created nor destroyed, therefore living organisms must ultimately obtain all the necessary energy for life from their environment. This is essential for the survival of the organism as the constant energy input is needed to maintain cellular processes and sustain life. A is incorrect because organisms do require a constant input of energy to maintain their energy content. C is incorrect because as an organism grows in complexity, the entropy actually increases due to the increased disorder and randomness of the system. D is incorrect because organisms are able to transform energy from one state to another.

Biological Systems Use Free Energy Based on Empirical Data That