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Question #45244
The Question
According to the NCERT concept of metabolism, 'the living state is a non-equilibrium steady state to be able to perform work.' Consider a clinical scenario where a toxin irreversibly binds to and continuously activates adenylate cyclase in hepatocytes, completely overriding the normal hormonal negative feedback loops. Which of the following statements regarding the resulting cellular metabolic flux is NOT correct?
Options
- A.
The intracellular concentration of cAMP remains persistently high, driving a continuous metabolic flux towards catabolism.
- B.
The cell establishes a new, elevated non-equilibrium steady state that is maintained indefinitely to perform continuous work.
- C.
The failure to balance substrate input with rapid product formation eventually leads to catastrophic metabolic exhaustion.
- D.
The system will eventually drift towards thermodynamic equilibrium due to the complete depletion of substrate reserves.
Check Your Answer
Correct Answer
Step-by-Step Solution
Explanation
How the Examiner Thinks
Regulatory_Failure
Understand how NOT, EXCEPT, and logical constraints are used to manipulate exam results.
Concepts Behind This Question
Metabolic Flux and Steady State|Feedback Mechanism Loops|Secondary Messenger Cascade
Why This Question Is Tricky
Common Mistakes
Conceptual Pivot: Students often misunderstand the thermodynamic definition of the 'living state'.
A common misconception is that a hyper-stimulated metabolic pathway simply creates a 'faster' steady state.
However, without negative feedback, the metabolic flux outpaces substrate input.
The trap forces the student to realize that steady states are fragile and dependent on feedback loops; overriding them inevitably leads to substrate depletion and thermodynamic equilibrium (death), not an indefinitely sustained high-energy state.
Quick Facts About This Question
Question Information
| Subject | Biology |
| Chapter | Biomolecules - Class 11 |
| Concept | Metabolic Flux and Steady State |
| Difficulty | 8 |
| Cognitive Load | 5 |
| Target Solve Time | 120 sec |
| Access | Free |