Slide 1

Fundamental Properties of Life

& Theories on the Origin of Life
GZOO111 - General Zoology (Lecture)
Prelims – Week 2

Jennifer P. Lascano

Photo Credit: https://www.costaricantimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/costa-rica-biodiversity1.jpg

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Slide 2

OBJECTIVES

01 02 03

Describe the Appreciate the Evaluate the

fundamental complexity and theories on the
characteristics organization of origin of life
of life life on Earth

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Slide 3

FUNDAMENTAL
PROPERTIES OF LIFE
1) Chemical Uniqueness
2) Complexity & Hierarchical Organization
3) Reproduction
4) Possession of Genetic Program
5) Metabolism
6) Development
7) Environmental Interaction
8) Movement

SOURCE: Hickman et al. (2017) Integrated principles of Zoology, 17th ed.

McGraw Hill Education

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Slide 4

Fundamental Properties of Life

Chemical
1
Uniqueness

Living systems
demonstrate a unique
and complex
molecular
organization

SOURCE: Hickman et al. (2017) p. 3 https://www.thinglink.com/scene/595364939472830465

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Slide 5

Fundamental Properties of Life

Complexity &
2 Hierarchical
Organization

Living systems
demonstrate a unique
and complex
hierarchical
organization

SOURCE: Hickman et al. (2017) p. 3

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Slide 6

Fundamental Properties of Life

Reproduction
3

Living Systems can

reproduce themselves
Organisms reproduce,
sexually or asexually,
to produce new
organisms.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/155748725@N04/27855837618
SOURCE: Hickman et al. (2017) p. 4

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Slide 7

Fundamental Properties of Life

Reproduction
3

Living Systems can

reproduce themselves
Organisms reproduce,
sexually or asexually,
to produce new
organisms.
SOURCE: Hickman et al. (2017) p. 4

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Slide 8

Fundamental Properties of Life

Possession of
4 Genetic
Material

A genetic program
provides fidelity of
inheritance.
For animals & most other
organisms,
DNA stores genetic
information.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/155748725@N04/27855837618
SOURCE: Hickman et al. (2017) p. 5

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Slide 9

Fundamental Properties of Life

“an interaction of destructive (catabolic)

Metabolism and constructive (anabolic) reactions.”
5

Living organisms
maintain themselves by
acquiring nutrients
from their
environments

SOURCE: Hickman et al. (2017) p. 6

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Slide 10

Fundamental Properties of Life

Development
6

All organisms pass

through a
characteristic life cycle

SOURCE: Hickman et al. (2017) p. 6

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Slide 11

Fundamental Properties of Life

Development
6

All organisms pass

through a
characteristic life cycle

SOURCE: Hickman et al. (2017) p. 6

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Slide 12

Fundamental Properties of Life

Environmental
7 Interaction

All animals interact

with their
environments

SOURCE: Hickman et al. (2017) p. 7

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Slide 13

Fundamental Properties of Life

Environmental
Irritability
7 Interaction

Homeostasis
All animals interact
with their
environments
Adaptation

SOURCE: Hickman et al. (2017) p. 7

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Slide 14

Fundamental Properties of Life

Irritability
Irritability is that characteristic of living
organisms in being aware of, and being able to
respond to, a stimulus which tends to disturb
the steady state or homeostasis which all
organisms prefer for maintaining life.
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-1-349-09692-3_13

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Slide 15

Fundamental Properties of Life

Homeostasis
Homeostasis - any self-regulating
process by which biological systems tend
to maintain stability while adjusting to
conditions that are optimal for survival.
https://www.britannica.com/science/homeostasis

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Slide 16

Fundamental Properties of Life

Adaptation
the process by which a species
becomes fitted to its environment

https://www.britannica.com/science/adaptation-biology-and-physiology

https://animalsake.com/adaptations-in-desert-animals

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Slide 17

Fundamental Properties of Life

Movement
8

Living systems and

their parts show
precise and controlled
movements arising
from within the system

SOURCE: Hickman et al. (2017) p. 8

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Slide 18

THEORIES ON THE
ORIGIN OF LIFE
1) Panspermia

2) Spontaneous Generation / Abiogenesis

3) Biogenesis

4) Chemical Evolution

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Slide 19

Theories on the Origin of Life

Panspermia

Unit of life called

“spores” were
transferred to different
planets.
extraterrestrial microorganisms lying dormant on the surface of comets or
meteors crashed into Earth billions of years ago and kickstarted the
development of life
https://www.outerplaces.com/science/item/18187-astrobiology-proof-aliens-life-earth-space-bacteria

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Slide 20

Theories on the Origin of Life

Spontaneous
generation/
Abiogenesis

“Life arose from non-

living decaying matter
such as stones & muds”

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Slide 21

Theories on the Origin of Life

Biogenesis

“Life comes from life”

“Living cells can arise

from preexisting cells”

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Slide 22

Theories on the Origin of Life

Chemical
Evolution

“First form of life

originated from pre-
existing nonliving
organic molecules such
as RNA & proteins”

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