Metabolism

Metabolism is a broad term that includes all the chemical reactions that occur in the
body. One phase of metabolism is catabolism in which complex substances are
broken down into simpler building blocks and energy is released.

Responsiveness

Responsiveness or irritability is concerned with detecting changes in the internal or

external environments and reacting to that change. It is the act of sensing a stimulus
and responding to it.

Movement

There are many types of movement within the body. On the cellular level, molecules
move from one place to another. Blood moves from one part of the body to another.
The diaphragm moves with every breath. The ability of muscle fibers to shorten and
thus to produce movement is called contractility.

Reproduction

For most people, reproduction refers to the formation of a new person, the birth of a
baby. In this way, life is transmitted from one generation to the next through
reproduction of the organism. In a broader sense, reproduction also refers to the
formation of new cells for the replacement and repair of old cells as well as for
growth. This is cellular reproduction. Both are essential to the survival of the human
race.

Growth

Growth refers to an increase in size either through an increase in the number of cells
or through an increase in the size of each cell. In order for growth to occur, anabolic
processes must occur at a faster rate than catabolic processes.

Differentiation

Differentiation is a developmental process by which unspecialized cells change into

specialized cells with distinctive structural and functional characteristics. Through
differentiation, cells develop into tissues and organs.

What would happen if there was a loss of one basic life process?
What would the impact on your Health, Daily Lifestyle and Activities be ?
The results of lacking one of the six basic life processes would be catastrophic to the life
and health of the individual. These 6 are the characteristics that distinguish living from
non living. While the 6 basic life processes change over a life span, without exchanging
materials between cells, catabolism, anabolism and the other basic life principals, the
loss of one would cause death as they all work together inside humans. Death by
naturally progressing old age or cancer can show the effects that occur when some of the
6 basic life processes start degenerating or losing effectiveness.

Gene Expression Regulates Cell

Differentiation
Everything in your body is made up of cells: your hair, fingernails, bones, muscles,
organs and even blood. All of these cells contain the same genetic material, or DNA, and
this genetic material is what makes you a unique individual - it's different from everyone
else's DNA. So, how is it possible that your cells contain the same information, yet look
and act so differently from each other?

Cell differentiation is how generic embryonic cells become specialized cells. This
occurs through a process called gene expression. Gene expression is the specific
combination of genes that are turned on or off (expressed or repressed), and this is
what dictates how a cell functions. Gene expression occurs because of certain signals in
your body, both inside and outside of your cells.

Cell differentiation occurs during multiple stages of development. During cell

differentiation, the cell size and shape changes dramatically, as does its ability to
respond to signaling molecules. Signaling molecules are molecules that bring
messages to cells that help the cell know which activities and processes to perform.

Signaling molecules carry a message to a cell receptor, which interprets the message
through a signal transduction pathway. This pathway translates the message into
something that the cell can recognize and understand, and this is what tells a cell how to
function.

Importance of Cell Differentiation

As your cells develop and differentiate, they become quite different in structure and
function. Once this differentiation begins, a cell is bound to that fate and must continue
down its path of differentiation. Each type of cell that develops creates tissue-specific
proteins, which are only found in that cell type and are what give the cell its unique
structure and function.

Cells need to have different structures because they have different functions. A sperm
cell has a function that is very different from a skin cell or a liver cell. If a sperm cell were
not shaped the way it is, it would have a very difficult time swimming to an egg to fertilize
it.
Metabolism is a term that is used to describe all chemical reactions involved in
maintaining the living state of the cells and the organism. Metabolism can be
conveniently divided into two categories:

 Catabolism - the breakdown of molecules to obtain energy

 Anabolism - the synthesis of all compounds needed by the cells

Metabolism is closely linked to nutrition and the availability of nutrients.

Bioenergetics is a term which describes the biochemical or metabolic pathways by
which the cell ultimately obtains energy. Energy formation is one of the vital
components of metabolism.