What is Assimilation (biology)?
'''Assimilation''' in [[biology]], is the combination of two processes which get [[nutrients]] for [[cells]]. The first (in animals) is [[eating]] and [[digestion|digesting]] [[food]]. Food is [[absorption|absorbed]] and broken down. This is done by physical breakdown (chewing and stomach churning), then chemical breakdown by enzymes and acids) The results are absorbed into the [[bloodstream]]. The second process of is the chemical alteration of substances in the bloodstream by the [[liver]]. Many compounds needed by cells are done by this second process. Both the liver and cellular secretions can be very specific in their action. This second process is where the absorbed food reaches the cells via the liver. == Examples of assimilation by plants == * [[Photosynthesis]], the process whereby [[carbon dioxide]] and [[water]] are transformed into a number of [[biochemistry| organic molecules]] in [[plant]] [[cell (biology)|cells]]. * [[Nitrogen fixation]] from the soil into organic molecules by [[symbiosis|symbiotic]] [[bacteria]] which live in the [[root]]s of certain plants, such as [[Leguminaceae]]. ==Related pages== *[[Biochemistry]] *[[Food]] *[[Digestion]] {{-}} {{biology-stub}} [[Category:Physiology]]