Modified Mastering Biology with Pearson eText -- Standalone Access Card -- for Campbell Biology (10th Edition)
Modified Mastering Biology with Pearson eText -- Standalone Access Card -- for Campbell Biology (10th Edition)
10th Edition
ISBN: 9780321939050
Author: Jane B. Reece, Lisa A. Urry, Michael L. Cain, Steven A. Wasserman, Peter V. Minorsky, Robert B. Jackson
Publisher: PEARSON
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Textbook Question
Chapter 8, Problem 8.1CR

Explain how the highly ordered structure of a cell does not conflict with the second law of thermodynamics.

Expert Solution & Answer
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Summary Introduction

To explain: The way in which a cell’s highly ordered structure is not against the “second law of thermodynamics”.

Introduction: Thermodynamics refers to the study of the transformation of energy, which occurs in a collection of matter. It comprises of a word “system” (study state matter) and the other as “surroundings” (rest of the universe). The second law of thermodynamics states that “Heat does not flow spontaneously from a colder region to a hotter region and the total entropy cannot decrease, only increase”.

Explanation of Solution

According to the second law of thermodynamics, the living system increases the entropy of the surroundings. The cells create structures that are highly ordered from the less organized materials. For example, the simple molecules form the amino acids and amino acids further form the polypeptide chains. The organized forms of energy and matter are obtained by an organism from the environment and it replaces them with the less ordered forms.

As the smaller molecules are broken down by the catabolic pathways, animals release water and carbon dioxide. Therefore, the energy on a larger scale flows into many ecosystems as light and is released as heat. At the time of early history, it was said that from the simpler ancestors, the complex organisms were formed. Hence, this organizational structure is not a violation of the thermodynamics second law.

Conclusion

The organizational increase of the complexity of organisms does not violate the second law of thermodynamics.

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Modified Mastering Biology with Pearson eText -- Standalone Access Card -- for Campbell Biology (10th Edition)

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