Analysis of regularities and process efficiencies in living systems.
In the analysis of microbial growth and product formation, regularities which utilize available electron concepts have been used with considerable success. The facts that the heat of reaction per electron transferred to oxygen, the number of available electrons per carbon atom in microbial biomass and the weight fraction carbon in microbial biomass are relatively constant constitute the regularities. Values of these regularities are presented for carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. The free energy of reaction per electron transferred to oxygen is also examined as a regularity. Results of prior work with regularities in living systems are reviewed. Work on the utilization of these concepts in the analysis of process efficiency in living systems is presented.
D000818:Animals; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005223:Fats / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010788:Photosynthesis; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D013816:Thermodynamics; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism
D005223:Fats; D011506:Proteins; D014867:Water