Levels of Organization and Chemical Compounds How do cells work together in an organism? What is an organic compound?

Organization of your Body Cell Tissue Organ Organ System Organism C-T-3O – Think Star Wars

Chemical Compounds in Cells An element is a substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances Compounds form when two or more elements combine chemically Compounds that contain Carbon are referred to as organic compounds SPONCH – Sulphur, Phosphorus, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Carbon, and Hydrogen

What Compounds do Cells Need? Important groups of organic compounds that cells need are carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids Water is a necessary inorganic compound

Carbohydrates These are energy rich compounds made of carbons, hydrogens, and oxygens Photosynthesis in plants produces sugars Found in high levels in fruits and some vegetables Sugar molecules can combine to form starches Carbohydrates are found in cell walls in plants and cell membranes

Lipids (Fats) Made mostly of carbon and hydrogen with some oxygen Fats, oils, and waxes are all lipids Lipids contain more energy than carbohydrates

Proteins Large organic molecules made of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and in some cases, sulfur make up parts of the organelles within a cell Enzymes speed up chemical reactions within living things

Nucleic Acids Very long organic molecules C, O, N, H, P Contain the instructions for a cell to carry out life DNA – Deoxyribonucleic Acid – genetic material (shape – double helix) that carries information about an organism and is passed from parent to offspring

Water (H2O) and living things Water is crucial in transportation within and between cells Water helps cells maintain shape Water changes temperature slowly Without water, life would not exist as we know it

Cells and Homeostasis Homeostasis – the maintenance of stable internal conditions that are necessary for life functions Processes that help maintain homeostasis include getting and using energy from food and removing wastes Diffusion – molecules move from an area of higher concentration to and area of lower concentration Active transport – movement of materials across a cell membrane using cellular energy

Reproduction of Cells Cell division – process in which one cell splits into two identical cells that are genetically identical to the original Reproduction of cells is one of the ways multicellular organisms maintain homeostasis