Final answer:
The immediate energy currency used by virtually all cells of the human body is Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP), which is the primary molecule used for energy storage and transfer in cells.
Step-by-step explanation:
The immediate energy currency used by virtually all cells of the human body is Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP). ATP is highly important in cellular processes because it serves as a molecular unit of currency, transferring energy from chemical bonds to cell functions that require energy.
This crucial energy carrier has an adenosine backbone and three phosphate groups attached, signifying its capability to store and provide energy for a variety of biological reactions.
Other molecules like Guanidine-Triphosphate (GTP), Cytidine-Triphosphate (CTP), Uridine-Triphosphate (UTP), and Adenosine Diphosphate (ADP) also play roles in cellular processes, but ATP is the primary molecule used for energy storage and transfer within cells. During cellular respiration, carbohydrates, proteins, and fats are metabolized to produce ATP, which then provides the necessary energy for cellular activities including muscle contraction, cell division, and synthesis of biomolecules.
ATP's ability to release energy comes from the breaking of its high-energy phosphate bonds during hydrolysis, which turns ATP into ADP (Adenosine Diphosphate) and inorganic phosphate. This process of dephosphorylation illustrates why ATP can be referred to as the 'energy currency' of the cell, as it readily distributes energy where needed.
Therefore, the correct answer to the student's question is c) ATP.