Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA) AS Biology Practice Exam

Question: 1 / 400

How is entropy defined in the context of biological systems?

A measure of energy stored in organisms

A measure of disorder within a system

Entropy, in the context of biological systems, is defined as a measure of disorder within a system. This concept originates from thermodynamics, where entropy quantifies the degree of randomness or disorder in a system, and it has significant implications in biological contexts.

In biological systems, organisms are constantly using energy to maintain order, such as organizing molecules, maintaining homeostasis, and sustaining complex structures like cells and tissues. However, as energy is transformed and utilized, entropy tends to increase due to the second law of thermodynamics, which posits that in any energy transfer, overall entropy tends to increase in an isolated system. This reflects the natural tendency of systems to progress towards greater disorder over time.

When considering this definition, it is clear that the relevance of entropy is undeniable in understanding processes such as cellular respiration, metabolism, and the evolution of biological systems. Hence, recognizing entropy as a measure of disorder helps illuminate how organisms balance the need for order with the inevitable increase in disorder in their environments.

Get further explanation with Examzify DeepDiveBeta

A measure of the efficiency of enzymatic reactions

A measure of the genetic diversity in populations

Next Question

Report this question

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy