metabolism

• metabolism in the total sum of all chemical reactions in a cell/ body
• in a cell lots of chemical reactions happen all the time - which are controlled by enzymes. many of these reactions are linked to form bigger ones
• in some reactions larger molecules form from smaller ones for example lots glucose molecules are joined together in reactions to form starch (plants), glycogen (animals) and cellulose (cell walls)
• in some reactions larger molecules are broken down to smaller ones. for example glucose are broken down in respiration which transfers energy to all reactions in the body