The Flow of Energy Through Living Organisms is Best Characterized

Question

The flow of energy through living organisms is best characterized as ___.  
A) circular
B) increasing
C) a lattice
D) one way
E) lossless

Accepted Answer

The flow of energy in living organisms is one way. Energy enters the organism through food, and as the organism carries out its functions (e.g., growth, movement, maintenance), some of that energy is used up and released as heat or waste products. The remaining energy is stored within the organism or passed on to the next level of the food chain. This flow of energy is unidirectional and irreversible.