If the entropy of a living organism is decreasing, which of the following is most likely to be occurring simultaneously?

• A. The entropy of the organism's environment must also be decreasing.
• B. Heat is being used by the organism as a source of energy.
• C. The first law of thermodynamics is being violated.
• D. In this situation, the second law of thermodynamics must not apply.
• E. Energy input into the organism must be occurring to drive the decrease in entropy.

Answer: (E)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of entropy: Entropy is a measure of disorder or randomness in a system. In biological systems, a decrease in entropy means the system is becoming more ordered.
2. Recall the second law of thermodynamics: This law states that the total entropy of an isolated system can never decrease over time. However, living organisms are not isolated systems; they exchange energy and matter with their surroundings.
3. Consider how organisms maintain order: Living organisms maintain low entropy (high order) by taking in energy from their environment. This energy input is necessary to build complex molecules and structures, which decreases entropy within the organism.
4. Analyze the options: The decrease in entropy within the organism suggests that energy is being used to create order. This aligns with the idea that energy input is necessary to drive the decrease in entropy.
5. Conclude with the correct understanding: The correct interpretation is that energy input into the organism must be occurring to drive the decrease in entropy, consistent with the second law of thermodynamics when considering the organism and its environment together.