Q5 of 31 Page 47

Comment on the statement “living state is a non-equilibrium steady state to be able to perform work”.

• Equilibrium is the state of stability, in which work done is assumed to be zero.


• As biological system always performs tasks, it is considered to be in inequilibrium.


• In biological system, metabolic reactions always remain on and influx and efflux of metabolites takes place constantly, hence it can be said that living state is a non-equilibrium steady state which is able to perform work.


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