BIO173 Biology

Unity of Life
Unity of Life

All organisms:
Consist of one or more cells

Molecules are carbon based

SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

2
AND APPLIED CHEMISTRY
Energy and Thermodynamics

Energy
 the capacity to do work

Thermodynamics
 the study of energy transformations that occur in matter

First Law of Thermodynamics

 energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred &
transformed

 Life requires the continual input of energy

• Maintenance of life’s complex organization

SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

3
AND APPLIED CHEMISTRY
Life’s Energy Interdependence

Producers
Trap energy from the Sun
Photosynthesis

Consumers
Feed on Producers and/or other Consumers for energy

Decomposers
Bacteria and Fungi break down dead organisms for energy

SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

4
AND APPLIED CHEMISTRY
Energy - Metabolism

 Total chemical reactions of the body (enzyme catalyzed)

• Capacity to extract and convert energy from the surroundings

• Energy used for maintenance, growth & reproduction

• Basic metabolic pathways similar in most organisms

Anabolism
 Small components built into larger ones
 Synthesis or Condensation reactions

Catabolism
 Large components broken down into smaller ones
 Hydrolysis

SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

5
AND APPLIED CHEMISTRY
Energy - Chemical Reactions

Reactants: chemicals at the start of a reaction

Products: chemicals at the end of a reaction
2 H2 + O2  2 H2O

 Endergonic– energy input is required for the reaction

 Exergonic – energy is released from the reaction

SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

6
AND APPLIED CHEMISTRY
Homeostasis

Maintain steady state despite changing environment

 Blood Sugar
 Body Temperature
 Water Balance
 Oxygen & Carbon Dioxide
 pH Levels
 Sleep Cycles
 Blood Pressure
 Many others

SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

7
AND APPLIED CHEMISTRY
Homeostasis

Irritability
Ability to detect stimuli in the environment
Receptor / sensor

Adaptability
Ability to adjust to the environmental
changes
Control mechanisms initiated

Feedback
Effectors response detected by receptor
Control mechanisms can be turned off

SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

8
AND APPLIED CHEMISTRY
DNA – Deoxyribonucleic Acid

Biological storage of information in all livings organisms

Information in DNA encodes an organism’s distinct features (traits)
Encodes the sequence of a protein using 20 different amino acids
Organisms grow, develop and reproduce using the information
DNA is inherited from parent organism(s)

SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

9
AND APPLIED CHEMISTRY
DNA – Reproduction

 Mechanism by which parent transmits DNA to offspring

 Produces offspring similar to the parent
 Survival of the species

Asexual
 Requires only one parent
 Offspring is genetically identical (clone)
 No genetic variation
 Binary fission, budding,
 Bacteria, yeast, slime mold, hydra, etc

SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

10
AND APPLIED CHEMISTRY
DNA – Reproduction

Sexual
Requires two parents
Offspring will be genetically similar to both parents
Allows for genetic variation (mixing of DNA & traits)
Increases survival of the species by creating genetic diversity

SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

11
AND APPLIED CHEMISTRY
Unity of Life

All organisms:
Consist of one or more cells
Are carbon based (more to come)
Remain alive by continual input of energy (use of ATP)
Sense and respond to change (Homeostasis)
Have a universal genetic code (common to all species)
Synthesize proteins using the 20 naturally-occurring amino acids
Use enzymes (proteins) to catalyze biological reactions
Have common biochemical pathways (glycolysis)
Inherit DNA which encodes information for:
• Growth, Development and Reproduction

SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

12
AND APPLIED CHEMISTRY
Summary

Unity of Life
 Many similarities between all living organisms

Theory
 All organisms on Earth are descended from a single common
ancestor

SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

13
AND APPLIED CHEMISTRY