What process allows a living organism to grow and produce energy?

Metabolism is the correct process that allows a living organism to grow and produce energy. It encompasses all the chemical reactions that occur within cells to maintain life, including the breakdown of nutrients and the synthesis of cellular components. This complex network of reactions is essential for converting food into usable energy, facilitating growth, repairing tissues, and carrying out various cellular functions.

Photosynthesis, while vital for plants and some bacteria, specifically refers to the process by which these organisms convert sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water into glucose and oxygen. It is a form of metabolism but does not apply to all living organisms.

Meiosis is a form of cell division that results in gametes (sperm and eggs) and is crucial for sexual reproduction but does not directly relate to the overall metabolic processes that allow for growth and energy production.

Respiration, particularly cellular respiration, is a part of metabolism and is the process through which organisms convert glucose and oxygen into energy, carbon dioxide, and water. However, metabolism is the broader term that also includes other pathways and processes necessary for growth, not just energy production.

In summary, metabolism is the comprehensive term that encapsulates all of these processes, making it the most appropriate answer for the question regarding growth and energy production in living organisms