Question

Apply the concept of the “conservation of mass” to metabolism by describing the different forms mass takes as it enters and leaves the cell (e.g. input: reduced molecules like glucose, lipids, proteins, etc. & output: oxidized molecules like CO2, H2O, etc.)

Answer 1

The process of metabolism taking place inside the cell can be described on the basis of "conservation of mass". Metabolism can be broadly divided into two groups Anabolism ( building up) and catabolism ( breakdown of the complex compound). The input molecules diffusing into the cell includes glucose molecules, amino acids, lipid, and protein. Glucose is mainly used for respiration of cell to generate energy in form of ATP. The carbon and nitrogen sources are also used for building up of cellular components and cell grows, this can be related to accumulation stage. The cellular component is a tiny factory where a huge number of chemical reactions are simultaneously carried out as a result of respiration cell throw out underused products like CO2, H20 produced during cellular respiration. If we try to look at this process in totality we will be able to correlate with the stoichiometry between the input and output materials.