[Campbell Biology P.208] According to the text, why is the tight regulation of enzyme activi... | Practice Question

According to the text, why is the tight regulation of enzyme activity essential for a cell's metabolism?

  • A: To ensure that all metabolic pathways operate simultaneously for maximum efficiency.
  • B: To prevent the production of unnecessary or harmful byproducts.
  • C: To constantly create new enzymes to replace old ones.
  • D: To ensure enzymes are always functioning at their maximum catalytic rate.

Explanation

The text states, "Chemical chaos would result if all of a cell's metabolic pathways were operating simultaneously. Intrinsic to life's processes is a cell's ability to tightly regulate its metabolic pathways by controlling when and where its various enzymes are active." This implies that regulation prevents uncontrolled reactions and the production of unneeded or harmful substances, thereby maintaining metabolic order.