Within biological systems, there are always reactions that seem to occur when thermodynamically they should not. An example is in the process of glycolysis, ?G°' = 2183.6 kJ/mol. How is this possible, when cells are governed by the laws of thermodynamics?
What will be an ideal response?
Answer: Basically, the conversion of glucose to pyruvate?? does not occur in a single reaction; stepwise reactions make the overall process more thermodynamically feasible. In addition, conditions inside of cells are not standard, and low concentrations of products and high concentrations of reactants make the thermodynamics of biologically important reactions more favorable. Further, biological systems couple reactions, such that a thermodynamically improbable one (e.g., the conversion of ADP to ATP) can now take place.
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Which statement best describes an electron transfer chain?
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Which of the following cells can use nonphagocytic means to kill bacteria?
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