Final answer:
Enzymes are specific biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions in the body by binding to substrates at their active sites. This specificity is crucial for maintaining life processes, and enzyme deficiencies can cause health problems. Option a.
Step-by-step explanation:
An enzyme is a protein that functions as a biological catalyst, which increases the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process. Each enzyme produced by the body is specific to its substrate option a, meaning it can only catalyze reactions with certain molecules. The specificity comes from the enzyme's active site, where the substrate binds to form an enzyme-substrate complex. This process dramatically increases the rate of biochemical reactions necessary for life, and deficiencies in specific enzymes can lead to serious health issues, like phenylketonuria.