Cellular Energy and Thermodynamics

 This interactive learning module explores the fundamental principles of energy flow in living systems through four interconnected components: understanding the balance between anabolism and catabolism, discovering how cells couple energy-releasing and energy-requiring reactions through ATP, experiencing the sequential steps of cellular respiration from glucose to ATP production, and witnessing what happens when energy flow stops. Through hands-on simulations and visualizations, users gain a deep understanding of how living organisms capture, transform, and utilize energy to maintain the order necessary for life.

  Features:

– Adjust energy balance sliders to control cellular energy input and output, watching molecules grow or shrink in real-time based on energy availability

– Click to build and break ATP molecules, experiencing both endergonic phosphorylation and exergonic hydrolysis reactions

– Select enzymes and catalyze reactions by clicking molecules to convert glucose through the complete cellular respiration pathway (glycolysis → oxidation → Krebs cycle → electron transport chain)

 – Track molecule counts as glucose transforms into 36 ATP molecules through sequential metabolic steps

– Simulate energy loss and failure to observe animated cellular breakdown including ion pump failure, membrane deterioration, protein denaturation, and DNA fragmentation

  – Restore cellular energy to witness the cell’s return to ordered, living function