Answer :
The correct answer is B) Catabolic pathways.
In Biology, metabolic pathways are series of chemical reactions occurring within a cell. They are crucial for maintaining cell function, growth, and response to environmental changes. Metabolic pathways can be broadly classified into two main types: anabolic and catabolic pathways.
Anabolic Pathways involve the process of building up larger molecules from smaller ones. These pathways consume energy. An example is the synthesis of proteins from amino acids.
Catabolic Pathways are the focus here. They involve the breakdown of complex molecules into simpler ones with the release of energy. This energy can then be used by the cell for various purposes, like powering cellular processes. An example of a catabolic pathway is cellular respiration, where glucose is broken down to produce ATP, the energy currency of cells.
Metabolic Pathways refer to any pathway, either anabolic or catabolic, that is part of the metabolism.
Exergonic Pathways describe reactions that release energy, not specifically pathways that involve breaking down molecules.
Thus, catabolic pathways specifically define biological processes that release energy by breaking down complex molecules, making option B the most correct answer.
