extracellular digestion
What extracellular digestion means in Biology A-Level, as defined for AQA.
Definitions of extracellular digestion
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Reference: AQA
Digestion of dead organisms and waste outside the cell, carried out by hydrolytic enzymes secreted by saprobionts, whose products are then absorbed.
Hydrolytic enzymes are secreted out of the cell onto the substrate, where they hydrolyse the polymers.
Topics that use extracellular digestion
- Nutrient cycles (A-level only) (AQA A-Level)
Related terms
- algal bloom
- ammonification
- artificial fertilisers
- decomposers
- denitrification
- eutrophication
- ion availability
- leaching
Using extracellular digestion in the exam
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