How is energy defined in biological terms?

In biological terms, energy is best defined as the ability to move or change matter. This definition encompasses the various ways in which organisms utilize energy to perform essential functions. For instance, energy is required for cellular processes, growth, movement, and maintaining homeostasis.

Living organisms transform energy from one form to another—such as converting food into usable energy through metabolic processes. This transformation supports life-sustaining activities, making the movement or alteration of matter a fundamental aspect of biological energy.

Understanding energy in this way highlights its critical role in the dynamics of living systems, from molecular mechanisms like muscle contraction to larger biological processes like ecosystems functioning.