What is the term for the biochemical process that releases energy from food?

The biochemical process that releases energy from food is termed respiration. During respiration, organisms break down glucose or other organic molecules, typically in the presence of oxygen (aerobic respiration) or in its absence (anaerobic respiration), to produce energy in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate). This energy is crucial for all cellular activities, including growth, repair, and maintenance of cellular functions.

Respiration involves a series of chemical reactions that convert the stored energy in food into a usable form for the cells. It is a vital process for all living organisms, as it enables them to perform essential functions necessary for survival.

In contrast, reproduction refers to the biological process by which new individual organisms are produced, nutrition is the intake and processing of food to obtain necessary nutrients, and sensitivity relates to the ability of organisms to respond to their environment. While all are important biological processes, they do not directly pertain to the release of energy from food, which is specifically the function of respiration.