Question

Sometimes, people claim that biological processes such as evolution are incompatible with the second law of thermodynamics. Assuming you wanted to engage scientifically with someone who claimed this, what would you say to them to show that they are incorrect? Support your answer with an example from cell biology.

Answer 1

Second law of thermodynamics:- This law can be stated a number of different ways .Th e simplest form is entropy never decreses .While entropy can be incresed,it can not be decresed.An important manifestation of entropy is the measurement of disorder.Since entropy continous increases,or at least can not decresesthen disorder must be increses.If disorder can not decrese ,then order can not increse.Living organism are highly ordered systems.Non living things gave rise to living things which leaded to an increse in order and appear to violate the second law of thermodynamics .Evolutionwould be the development of life over time,which involves incresing order,which also appears to violate the second law of thermodynamics.

Second law of thermodynamics only applies to isolates system that exchanges neighter matter nor energy with its surroundings .living things are continually exchanging both energy and matter with their surroundings ,so they clearly are open ,but are not isolated system.Living things syntesize simpler molecules into more comlex ones.Energy and matters are required for this,and living things are open system.Cell organelle such as plasma membrane allows exchange of matter with its surroundings.It defines life as an open system.Plasma membrane contains transmembrane protein channels and transporters that facilitate the passage of nutrients like glucose ,amino acid ,nucleotides and other molecules .Many nutrients are convertedby cell into ATP ,a storable form of energy,assimilated into cellular organelles ,used for structural support ,or converted into enzymes.Conversion of nutrients into useful forms toxic waste products and heat which exported by cell to environment to ensures the cell's survival