EARTH AND LIFE SCIENCE

Extraterrestrial origin- The hypothesis explains that life originated on another planet outside our Solar
System. Life was then carried to Earth on a meteorite or an asteroid and colonized Earth.
Panspermia- The theory presumes that the “seed” of life exists all over the universe and can be
propagated through space, and that life on Earth originated from those seeds
Origin from Nonliving matter- Scientist believed that life arose on Earth from inanimate matter after
Earth had cooled.

Spontaneous Generation Theory- A theory where living organisms arise from non- living things.
Francesco Redi- designed a scientific experiment to test the spontaneous creation of maggots by placing
fresh meat in each of three different jars.
Louis Pasteur- He subsequently designed several bottles with S-curved necks that were oriented
downward so gravity would prevent access by airborne foreign materials
Biogenetic theory- Life begets life
Abiiogenetic Theoy- Progressive development from non living things

Scientific inquiry- The process of science includes observation- based discovery and the testing of
explanations through the hypothetic-deductive.
Biological system- Interaction of organisms with each other and with the nonliving environment put
the system in ecosystem
All organisms are made of cells.
Levels of organization:
cell
tissue
organ
system
organism
Note: Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes have both PLASMA MEMBRANE and CYTOPLASM

Reproduction and Inheritance

Each cell in the body contains a copy of all DNA that were inherited from our mother and father.
In humans, an egg cell from the mother fuses with a sperm cell from the father.
Reproduction is defined as a biological process in which an organism gives rise to young ones
(offspring) similar to itself.
All living organisms reproduce. Sexual reproduction occurs when two individuals are involved. Asexual
reproduction occurs when a single individual is involved.
In unicellular organisms, reproduction occurs by the division of the entire cell. The modes of
reproduction in unicellular organisms can be fission, budding, etc.
whereas in multicellular organisms, specialised reproductive organs are present. Therefore, they can
reproduce by complex reproductive methods such as vegetative propagation, spore formation, etc.
Budding: It is seen in certain fungi and multicellular animals. In budding, the parent cell or body gives
out a lateral outgrowth called the bud. The nucleus divides and one of the daughter nuclei passes into the
daughter cell. The bud grows in size while being attached to the parent body.
It then gets separated from the parent by the formation of a wall. It then falls off and germinates into a
new individual.
Genetic Engineering: is the artificial manipulation or alteration of genes.
Genetic Engineering involves: Removing a gene (target gene) from one organism inserting target gene
into DNA of another organism. ‘cut and paste’ process.

Recombinant DNA: the altered DNA is called recombinant DNA ( recombines after small section of
DNA inserted into it).
Genetically Modified Organism (GMO): Is the organism with the altered DNA.
Transgene/Transgenic- If DNA is transferred from one species to another the organism that receives the
DNA is said to be transgenic.
Restriction Enzymes: Are special enzymes used to cut the DNA at specific places.
D N A L i g a s e: Enzyme which acts like a glue sticking foreign DNA to DNA of the cloning vector.
Gene Cloning: The production of multiple copies of a gene
Note: The BEST word to describe Genetic Engineering is TRANSFORMATION
Traditional Breeding- Used to improve the characteristic of the final product

In more complex multicellular organisms such as human beings and plants, the mode of reproduction is
sexual reproduction.
Unicellular Organisms- They are typically microscopic and cannot be seen with the naked eye.
1. Large Intestine- serves three main functions such as egestion, vitamin
production and removal excess of water
2. Duodenum-a part of small intestine where digestion is completed
3. Gallbladder- a part of small intestine where bile is stored
4. Esophagus- a part of digestive system where food is directed
5. Stomach- it churns food mechanically and secretes gastric juice.

WORD BANK
Scientific Inquiry- The process of science includes observation- based discovery and the testing of
explanations through the hypothetic-deductive.

Asexual Reproduction- Fusion of the egg cell and sperm cell does not occur, reproduction is mainly
through mitosis which creates a clone of the parent.

Gene cloning- The production of multiple copies of a gene

Restriction enzyme- An enzyme produced chiefly by certain bacteria, having the property of cleaving
DNA molecules at or near a specific sequence of bases.

Deoxyribonucleic acid- A nucleic acid molecule, usually a double-stranded helix, in which each
polynucleotide strand consists of nucleotide monomers with a deoxyribose sugar and the nitrogenous
bases adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and thymine (T); capable of being replicated and
determining the inherited structure of a cell’s proteins.

Genetically Modified Organism- An organism that has acquired one or more genes by artificial means and
known as a transgenic organism.

Enzymes- Biological molecules (typically proteins) that significantly speed up the rate of virtually all the
chemical reactions that take place within cells.

Pharynx- Is the part of the throat behind the mouth and nasal cavity, and above the esophagus and larynx,
the tubes going down to the stomach and the lungs.

Hormones- In Greek, it literally means to excite, these are substances which can cause a
reaction to a cell.

Duodenum- Part of the digestive system. It is where digestion is COMPLETED.

Ovuliparity
External fertilisation (egg cells released into the environment and fertilised by males)
Molluscs, arthropods, fishes and most frogs.

Oviparity, Internal fertilization

Lay eggs
Little embryonic development in mother
Most fish, amphibians, reptiles, all birds, monotremes

Ovoviviparity (Internal fertilization)

Embryos develop in eggs and
hatch within parent.
Some fish, amphibians and reptiles

Respiratory System