introduction to life science

Tuesday, October 11, 2022 12:58 PM

 Discussing about organisms

Historical Development of the Concept of Life

The two biographies of life;

First: ontogenic, synthetic, and developmental.
Ontogeny
- the origination and development of an organism (both physical and psychological, e.g. moral
development). Usually from the time of fertilization of the egg to adult.
Synthetic
- means undergoing chemical process
- Substances or products made by chemical synthesis.
Developmental
- is concerned with the evolution of animals and plants.

Second: historical-collective, populational, diachronic, and evolutionary process.

Diachronic
- is concerned with the way in which something especially language has developed [societal
question mark].

Two main pillars that sustain life are; metabolism and genetics

Metabolism
- is the process by which the body changes food and drink into energy.

Genetics
- is the scientific study of genes and heredity-of how certain qualities of traits are passed from
parents to offspring as a result of changes in DNA sequence.

What is Life? It is defined as any system capable of performing functions such as eating,
metabolizing, excreting, breathing, moving, growing, reproducing, and responding to external
stimuli.

Two branches to the tree of life:

Bacteria - small single-celled organisms, found almost everywhere on Earth and are vital to the
planet's ecosystem.

Archaea - group of micro-organisms that are similar to, but evolutionary distinct from bacteria.
Many archaea have been found living in extreme environments, for example; at high pressures, salt
concentrations or temperatures.

Organisms;

Heterotrophs (consumers) are known as consumers because they consume producers or other
consumers. [doesn't produce their own foods] Dogs, birds, fish, and humans

Autotroph (producers) organisms that can produce its own food using light, water, carbon dioxide,
or other chemicals. Because autotrophs produce their own food, they are sometimes called
producers.

Unifying themes in the study of life:

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Life is recognized through a set of characteristics.

Theme 1: New properties emerge at successive level of biological organization

- Reductionism is the approach of breaking down complex systems into simpler systems that
are more manageable for study; in order to understand.
- Emergent properties; new, and that emerge at each level of organization.
- Systems biology is a system that combines components that function together.
- Structure and Function; a major theme in biology. That is, the organism's form must fit its
function. For instance, a hummingbird's wings are designed to beat rapidly and set it to fly.

The cell is the basic unit of life structure and function.

Theme 2: Life's processes Involve the expression and Transmission of Genetic Information
Keywords; reproduction, growth

DNA - storage space for generic information

- Controls the protein shiz ewan kona
- Proteins: gene expression?????????? WHAT
- Is where genes are found. Genes are the basic units of inheritance that transmits

Theme 3: Life requires the transmission and transformation of energy and matter

Keywords; process? Work [you better work *RuPaul voice*]

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Theme 4: From Ecosystems to Molecules, Interactions are Important in Biological Systems

Keywords; types, different relationships

Theme 5: Evolution is the Core Theme of Biology

Theory proposed by Charles Darwin, after observing animals from his boat.

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