Everyday Chemistry - Cell Metabolism - A Defining Feature of Life

We often refer to the word 'Metabolism' in relation to weight gain, weight loss, diet etc. But what does metabolism really mean and what exactly is cell metabolism?

Metabolism is an overall term that is used for all the chemical transformations that take place within a living organism. It includes obtaining energy by feeding (either through eating or photosynthesis) and releasing energy through respiration. There are three attributes of life and metabolism is one of them.

Metabolism allows an organism to achieve body maintenance, body repair and growth.

Cells are the smallest living things and all organisms are composed of cells. Bacteria are single cell entities; they are prokaryotes, which mean they have no nucleus. Cell metabolism is the process of obtaining food and converting it to energy.

Metabolism that takes place within cells is called as cell metabolism. As stated, each cell is a living unit. The external surface of a cell is its membrane, which is very thin but it restricts the molecules from moving in and out of the cell. It is selectively permeable so that it can control which molecules can pass through it. Most metabolisms take place in the cytoplasm, which is everything within the membrane except the cell nucleus.

So the next time you use the words 'metabolism' or 'cell metabolism' you will understand a little better what it means.