Page 60 - The Miraculous Machine that Works for an Entire Lifetime: Enzyme

Harun Yahya

But what does an enzyme do to establish such speed? As we have

already seen, enzymes reduce the energy needed for a reaction to take
place. But just what is this activation energy? We can describe it thus:
In terms of energy, under normal conditions, the most suitable mole-
cule for carbon to combine with is carbon dioxide. When these two are
present in the same environment they will act on one another and have
a combustive effect. Yet even though these two substances are present
in the same living body, they never combust. Although the book you
are holding contains carbon and is in constant contact with carbon
dioxide, it never suddenly bursts into flames. The reason for this is that

the carbon-based molecules in living organisms and books have stable
structures, and in the absence of new energy (i.e., heat) from outside,
they cannot break those bonds and suddenly combust. New energy ar-
riving from the outside in such a way as to destabilize the structure in
question is called "activation energy." The activation energy needed to
impair the stable structure we are discussing here—in other words for
this book to ignite—is a burning match. For the molecules in the watery
solution inside the cell, that heat energy is released as a result of the col-
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lisions of molecules around them. Enzymes are responsible for reduc-
ing the considerable energy released during these collisions.
In order to measure the speed of enzymes' activity, biochemists

This diagram shows how reac-
tion speed can increase as a
result of enzyme involvement—
which speed is essential to the
survival of the human body.
These superior abilities of en-
zymes are a manifestation of
Allah's mercy towards human
beings.

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