Chapter 28, Problem 5SA

Summary Introduction

To review:

The wood resting at the bottom of a bog resist decay.

Introduction:

As a defense mechanism, the plants developed a rigid cell wall around itself. This cell wall is made up of an organic polymer, which is complex and hard to degrade called lignin. Lignin is also used by plants to hold them up against the gravitation pull and resist rotting.

An organism consumes only those organic material, which it can break to release energy and other metabolic products. Hence, the degradation of organic material depends upon its nature.