Certified Wildlife Rehabilitator Practice Test

How is anabolism best defined?

1. The sum of all chemical reactions involved in breaking down molecules

2. The sum of all chemical reactions involved in the synthesis of molecules

3. Only the formation of muscle tissue

4. The conversion of food into energy

The correct answer is: The sum of all chemical reactions involved in the synthesis of molecules

Anabolism is best defined as the sum of all chemical reactions involved in the synthesis of molecules. This process refers to the building up of complex molecules from simpler ones, which typically requires energy. Anabolic reactions are essential for growth, repair, and maintenance of body tissues, and they include processes such as the synthesis of proteins from amino acids and the creation of nucleic acids from nucleotides. Understanding anabolism is important in the context of wildlife rehabilitation as it relates to the growth and recovery of animals, particularly after injury or illness, where energy is required to repair tissues and recover strength. The other choices describe different biological processes that do not accurately reflect the definition of anabolism. The first choice relates to catabolism, the breakdown of molecules, while the third option inaccurately confines anabolism to muscle tissue only. The fourth choice refers to cellular respiration and energy metabolism rather than the specific process of synthesizing complex substances.