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In-Depth Information
Fig. 3.36
The MPR graph of
Sirius discordans
Fig. 3.37
The dynamics of
Sirius discordans
3.7.1
Anabolism and Catabolism
A deeper analysis of metabolic phenomena distinguishes two different types of
metabolism:
anabolism
and
catabolism
. This distinction is related to the energetic
aspect of biochemical reactions. Anabolism is the part of metabolism related to the
synthesis of substances that are energetically rich, or play a structural role in life
processes. Catabolism is the metabolism of degradation of substances in their chem-
ical components less energetically rich. In this section we introduce some concepts,
related to anabolism and catabolism that are crucial in the analysis of metabolic
systems. Two important consequences of distinction anabolism/catabolism are: i)
the intrinsic verse of life processes which require input substances, coming from
outside, and output substances, expelled to the outside; ii) the deep relationship be-
tween life and oscillations.
