Fundamentals of Biology What is life???????

Do we know? Biologists have never agreed upon a definition. Soooooooooo……… Biologists have never agreed upon a definition. Soooooooooo……… they describe the properties that living things have in common.

Living things

The ingredients of life Beside water, carbon, hydrogen and oxygen are necessary for life. Beside water, carbon, hydrogen and oxygen are necessary for life. Compounds made up of these three things are known as organic compounds Compounds made up of these three things are known as organic compounds

The four main groups of organic molecules Carbohydrates Carbohydrates Proteins Proteins Lipids Lipids Nucleic acids Nucleic acids

Carbohydrates Sugars and starches used for energy Sugars and starches used for energy Structure – chitin (shells of marine organisms) and cellulose (the main ingredient of wood and plant fibers) Structure – chitin (shells of marine organisms) and cellulose (the main ingredient of wood and plant fibers)

Proteins Composed of smaller subunits called amino acids Composed of smaller subunits called amino acids In addition to C, H, and O proteins contain Nitrogen In addition to C, H, and O proteins contain Nitrogen Functions: make up muscles, enzymes, hormones, carry oxygen, and even act as antifreeze in Antarctic fishes Functions: make up muscles, enzymes, hormones, carry oxygen, and even act as antifreeze in Antarctic fishes

Lipids Fats, oils and waxes Fats, oils and waxes Functions: energy storage, waterproofing, insulation and help with buoyancy Functions: energy storage, waterproofing, insulation and help with buoyancy

Nucleic Acids DNA and RNA DNA and RNA Functions: store and transmit the basic genetic information of all living things Functions: store and transmit the basic genetic information of all living things

Energy Photosynthesis – plants produce usable energy (glucose) from the sun, carbon dioxide and nutrients. Photosynthesis – plants produce usable energy (glucose) from the sun, carbon dioxide and nutrients. Respiration – use the energy formed by plants in addition to oxygen to gain the needed energy to function. Respiration – use the energy formed by plants in addition to oxygen to gain the needed energy to function.

Cells Prokaryotes vs Eukaryotes Prokaryotes vs Eukaryotes Prokaryotes – no organelles Prokaryotes – no organelles Eukaryotes – organelles : nucleus, mitochondria, ribosomes, golgi apparatus, etc.. Eukaryotes – organelles : nucleus, mitochondria, ribosomes, golgi apparatus, etc..

Life in the sea What is unique about living in the ocean? What is unique about living in the ocean? Salt water Salt water Movement of water – tides and curents Movement of water – tides and curents Temperature Temperature

Dealing with the salt Diffusion – molecules moving from high concentration to low. Diffusion – molecules moving from high concentration to low. Cells spend most of their energy actively transporting materials opposite the direction of diffusion. Cells spend most of their energy actively transporting materials opposite the direction of diffusion.

Marine fish have the ability to rid their body of excess salt – through their gills and in their urine Marine fish have the ability to rid their body of excess salt – through their gills and in their urine

Temperature Marine organisms are ectotherms (cold- blooded) or endotherms (warm-blooded). Marine organisms are ectotherms (cold- blooded) or endotherms (warm-blooded). The organisms have adapted to live in particular temperature ranges where their enzymes would work the best. The organisms have adapted to live in particular temperature ranges where their enzymes would work the best.

Reproducing Sexual – eggs, sperm and fertilization – offspring inherits genes from each parent Sexual – eggs, sperm and fertilization – offspring inherits genes from each parent Asexual – budding, and fission – all offspring are exact copies of parent Asexual – budding, and fission – all offspring are exact copies of parent

Why the diversity? Theory of evolution – the gradual alteration of a species genetic make-up. Theory of evolution – the gradual alteration of a species genetic make-up. Why does this occur? Why does this occur? Natural Selection – the best adapted individuals produce more offspring Natural Selection – the best adapted individuals produce more offspring

Classifying all the organisms KING PHILLIP CAME OVER FOR GOOD SPAGHETTI KING PHILLIP CAME OVER FOR GOOD SPAGHETTI KING PHILLIP CAME OVER FROM GREECE SATURDAY KING PHILLIP CAME OVER FROM GREECE SATURDAY Kingdom Kingdom Phylum Phylum Class Class Order Order Family Family Genus Genus Species Species

Humans Kingdom Animalia (multicellular organisms that eat other organisms; mostly mobile Kingdom Animalia (multicellular organisms that eat other organisms; mostly mobile Phylum Chordata (animals with a semi-rigid rod, a notochord, running down its back Phylum Chordata (animals with a semi-rigid rod, a notochord, running down its back Class Mammalia (chordates with hair and mammary glands) Class Mammalia (chordates with hair and mammary glands) Order Primates (mammals with well-developed hands and a high level of intelligence Family Hominidae (primates which walk upright on two legs, hands well structured for manipulating objects; cerebrum of the brain is relatively large Order Primates (mammals with well-developed hands and a high level of intelligence Family Hominidae (primates which walk upright on two legs, hands well structured for manipulating objects; cerebrum of the brain is relatively large Genus Homo (tool-using hominids with very large brain Genus Homo (tool-using hominids with very large brain Species Homo sapiens (only surviving species of genus Homo) Species Homo sapiens (only surviving species of genus Homo)

Bottlenose Dolphin Kingdom Animalia Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Phylum Chordata Class Mammalia Class Mammalia Order Cetacea Order Cetacea Family Delphinidae Family Delphinidae Genus Tursiops Genus Tursiops Species Tursiops truncatus Species Tursiops truncatus