A linear biochemical pathway is a chain of enzyme-catalyzed reaction steps where the product of one reaction becomes the substrate for the next reaction. The molecules progress through the pathway sequentially from the starting substrate to the final product. Each step in the pathway is usually facilitated by a different specific enzyme that catalyzes the chemical transformation. An example includes DNA replication, which connects the starting substrate and the end product in a straightforward sequence.    
Biological cells consume nutrients to sustain life. These nutrients are broken down to smaller molecules. Some of the molecules are used in the cells for various biological functions, and others are reassembled into more complex structures required for life. The breakdown and reassembly of nutrients is called metabolism. An individual cell will contain thousands of different kinds of small molecules, such as sugars, lipids, and amino acids. The interconversion of these molecules is carried out by catalysts called enzymes. For example, E. coli contains 2,338 metabolic enzymes. These enzymes form a complex web of reactions forming pathways by which nutrients are converted.   
The figure below shows a four step pathway, with intermediates,  and . To sustain a steady-state, the boundary species  and  are fixed. Each step is catalyzed  by an enzyme, .  
Linear pathways follow a step-by-step sequence, where each enzymatic reaction results in the transformation of a substrate into an intermediate product. This intermediate is processed by subsequent enzymes until the final product is synthesized.     
A linear pathway can be studied in various ways. Multiple computer simulations can be run to try to understand the pathway's behavior. Another way to understand the properties of a linear pathway is to take a more analytical approach. Analytical solutions can be derived for the steady-state if simple mass-action kinetics are assumed. Analytical solutions for the steady-state when assuming Michaelis-Menten kinetics can be obtained but are quite often avoided. Instead, such models are linearized. The three approaches that are usually used are therefore: 
* Computer simulation
* Analytical solutions using a linear mathematical model 
* Linearization of a non-linear model