1.2 The roles of metabolism Extract energy and reducing power from the environment (photosynthesis and oxidative degradation of nutrients) Generation (interconversion) of all the biomolecules(small and large) for a living organism(biosynthesis)1.2 The Roles of metabolism • Extract energy and reducing power from the environment (photosynthesis and oxidative degradation of nutrients); • Generation (interconversion) of all the biomolecules (small and large) for a living organism (biosynthesis)