[Campbell Biology P.195] Living systems maintain a high degree of internal order, which seem... | Practice Question

Living systems maintain a high degree of internal order, which seems to contradict the Second Law of Thermodynamics. How does the text explain that living organisms are consistent with the Second Law?

  • A: Living systems create new energy, which allows them to decrease the entropy of the universe locally.
  • B: Living systems decrease their own entropy by increasing the disorder of their surroundings through metabolic processes that release heat and small molecules.
  • C: Living systems defy the Second Law of Thermodynamics by maintaining perfect internal order without any energy cost.
  • D: The Second Law of Thermodynamics only applies to non-living systems, not biological ones.

Explanation

The text explains that 'Living systems increase the entropy of their surroundings, as predicted by thermodynamic law.' They do this by taking in ordered materials and releasing less ordered forms of matter like CO2 and heat, thus increasing the disorder of their environment while maintaining their own order.