Connections of Carbohydrate, Protein, and Lipid Metabolic Pathways

Free Response

Would you describe metabolic pathways as inherently wasteful or inherently economical? Why?

Hint:

They are very economical. The substrates, intermediates, and products move between pathways and do so in response to finely tuned feedback inhibition loops that keep metabolism balanced overall. Intermediates in one pathway may occur in another, and they can move from one pathway to another fluidly in response to the needs of the cell.