Metabolism Explained: How Your Body Uses Energy

Miacademy & MiaPrep Learning Channel

This comprehensive biology lesson explores the complex concept of metabolism, breaking it down into understandable processes that sustain life. The video defines metabolism not just as digestion, but as the sum of all chemical reactions in an organism, specifically focusing on how living things obtain and process energy. It distinguishes between autotrophs and heterotrophs, explaining how different organisms source their carbon, and details the six kingdoms of life through this metabolic lens. The core of the video differentiates between catabolism (breaking down molecules for energy) and anabolism (using energy to build new molecules). It uses memorable analogies, such as a "catastrophe" for catabolism and Lego structures for molecular rearrangement, to make abstract biochemical concepts concrete. Specific metabolic pathways like cellular respiration, lipolysis, and gluconeogenesis are introduced, along with the hierarchy of how the body burns carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins. For educators, this resource provides a solid foundation for units on cellular energetics, biochemistry, or ecology. It bridges the gap between molecular biology and macroscopic observations, showing how the cheeseburger a student eats is transformed into the cellular structures and energy their body needs. The clear visual diagrams of metabolic cycles and energy transfer make high-level concepts accessible for high school biology students.