The Eight Life Processes

Metabolism is the correct answer because it refers to the collective term for the eight life processes, which include nutrition, respiration, excretion, transportation, regulation, synthesis, growth, and reproduction. These processes are essential for the maintenance and functioning of living organisms. Metabolism involves the conversion of food into energy, the elimination of waste products, the transportation of nutrients and gases, the regulation of internal conditions, the synthesis of complex molecules, and the growth and reproduction of cells. Therefore, metabolism encompasses all the vital processes necessary for life.

The given answer lists the various life processes that organisms undergo. These processes include nutrition, which involves obtaining and processing nutrients for energy and growth; transport, which involves the movement of substances within an organism; cellular respiration, which is the process of converting nutrients into energy; excretion, which is the removal of waste products from the body; synthesis, which is the creation of complex molecules from simpler ones; regulation, which involves maintaining internal balance and responding to stimuli; growth, which is the increase in size or number of cells; and reproduction, which is the production of offspring.