a)  Introduction

Bioenergetics is the study of energy transformations in living matter. Matter and energy are distributed about the Universe and the Earth, and in similar fashion throughout you and all your cells. These distributions are dynamic; energy undergoes transfer, so too does matter, from one place to another. The transfer of matter and energy can be spontaneous, or not. Every living cell has the ability, by means of suitable catalysts, to derive energy from its environment, to convert it into a biologically useful form, and to utilize it for driving life processes that require energy. Part of this study will cover thermodynamics as applied to biological systems which are largely non-equilibrium systems with others being near equilibrium systems. This is different from classical thermodynamics which deals mainly with heat energies in equilibrium systems