Final answer:
To increase order in a system, an input of energy is required which is associated with a positive Gibbs free energy change (+deltaG). This process corresponds to reducing the system's entropy. Biological systems maintain low entropy through constant energy input, reflecting the broader principles of the second law of thermodynamics.
Step-by-step explanation:
To increase order from a state of disorder in a system requires an input of energy, which is signified by a positive change in Gibbs free energy (+deltaG). The concept of disorder and order in a system is tied to entropy, which is a measure of a system's disorder. A high level of entropy indicates a higher state of disorder within a system. To make a system more ordered, which means reducing its entropy, energy must be transferred into the system.
An important principle in this context is the second law of thermodynamics, which states that entropy will increase in an isolated system. This law implies that natural processes tend to move towards a state of greater disorder. However, with the input of energy, systems can become more ordered, although this is usually at the expense of increasing the entropy of the universe overall.
In biological systems, like single cells, maintaining a state of low entropy and high order requires constant energy input. This energy input is also reflected in the concept of activation energy, which is the initial energy needed by a system to initiate a process, such as a chemical reaction.