The sum total of all chemical reactions occurring in a living body is called?

Answer

To answer the question, "The sum total of all chemical reactions occurring in a living body is called?", we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding the Question**: The question asks for a term that describes all chemical reactions taking place in a living organism.

2. **Identifying the Term**: The term that encompasses all these reactions is known as "metabolism."

3. **Defining Metabolism**: Metabolism is the collective term for all biochemical processes that occur within a living organism, which includes both the breakdown of substances (catabolism) and the synthesis of new compounds (anabolism).

4. **Explaining Catabolism and Anabolism**:
- **Catabolism**: This refers to the breakdown of complex molecules into simpler ones, releasing energy in the process. For example, glycolysis is a catabolic pathway that breaks down glucose to produce energy.
- **Anabolism**: This involves the synthesis of complex molecules from simpler ones, requiring energy input. An example of an anabolic process is the synthesis of proteins from amino acids.

5. **Conclusion**: Therefore, the sum total of all chemical reactions occurring in a living body is called "metabolism."

### Final Answer:
The sum total of all chemical reactions occurring in a living body is called **metabolism**.

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