Question

"In pathways, carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins are broken down in stepwise reactions that lead to products of lower energy. This process is called:"

a) Phosphorylation

b) Biosynthetic

c) Degradative

d) Endergonic

Answer 1

Catabolism is the process where carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins are broken down into simpler molecules, releasing energy. The correct answer to the question is 'c) Degradative'. Catabolic pathways are essential for cellular energy balance and metabolism.

Step-by-step explanation:

The process where carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins are broken down into products of lower energy is called catabolism. This is a degradative process where complex molecules are broken down into simpler ones, releasing energy in the process.

Catabolic pathways are a part of metabolism, and they produce energy by breaking down larger molecules. Various enzymes catalyze these reactions, releasing monomer units such as simple sugars, fatty acids, glycerol, and amino acids. This degradation allows the cell to harvest energy for other processes. In contrast, anabolic pathways are biosynthetic and require energy input to build complex molecules from simpler ones.