Question : "The living state is a non-equilibrium steady state." Expla

1.	Question : "The living state is a non-equilibrium steady state." Explain.
Answer» Solution :There are thousands of chemical compounds CALLED metabolites are present in a living organisms, at concentrations characteristic of each of them. The blood concentration of glucose in a normal HEALTHY individual is 4.5-5.0 mM, while that of hormones would be nanogramsm. The most important fact of biological SYSTEMS is that all living organisms exist in a steady-state characterised by concentrations of each of these BIOMOLECULES. These biomolecules are in a metabolic flux. Any chemical or physical process moves spontaneously to equilibrium. The steady state is a non-equilibirium state. One should REMEMBER from physics that systems at equilibrium cannot perform work. As living organisms work continuously, they cannot afford to reach equilibrium. Hence the living state is a non-equilibrium steady-state to be able to perform work. Living process is a constant effort to prevent falling into equilibrium. This is achieved by energy input. Metabolism provides mechanism for the production of energy. Hence, living state cannot exist without metabolism.

Question : "The living state is a non-equilibrium steady state." Explain.