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Biol 1106 Unit 1.2, 4.1-4.3 Notes
- Course
- BIOL 1107
- Institution
- University Of Georgia
This is a comprehensive and detailed note that covers 1.2, 4.1-4.3 for Biol 1107. *Essential Study material!!
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1.2 Themes and Concepts of Biology● Viruses can attack living organisms, cause diseases, and even reproduce
○ They still do not meet the criteria that biologists use to define life
Properties of Life
● All living organisms share several key characteristics or functions
○ Order
○ Sensitivity or response to the environment
○ Reproduction
○ Adaptation
○ Growth and development
○ Regulation
○ Homeostasis
○ Energy processing
○ Evolution
● Organisms are highly organized, coordinated structures that consist of one or more cells
○ Even simple single-celled organisms are remarkably complex
● Atoms make up molecules, molecules make up cell organelles or form tissues, tissues
form organs, and organs work together to form organ systems
Reproduction
● Single celled organisms reproduce by first duplicating their DNA, and then dividing it
equally as the cell prepares to divide to form two new cells
● Multicellular organisms often produce specialized reproductive germline cells that will
form new individuals
○ When reproduction occurs, genes containing DNA are passed along to an
organism’s offspring
○ These genes ensure that the offspring will belong to the same species and will
have similar characteristics (size and shape)
Growth and Development
● Organisms grow and develop following specific instructions coded for by their genes
● These genes provide instructions that will direct cellular growth and development
Regulation
● Even the smallest organisms are complex and require multiple regulatory mechanisms
to coordinate internal functions, respond to stimuli, and cope with environmental stress
○ Two examples of internal functions regulated in an organism
■ Nutrient transport
■ Blood flow
Homeostasis
● In order to function properly, cells need to have appropriate conditions such as proper
temperature, pH, and appropriate concentration of diverse chemicals
○ These conditions may change from one moment to the next
● Homeostasis- the ability of an organism to maintain constant internal conditions
Energy Processing
● All organisms use a source of energy for their metabolic activities
○ Some organisms capture energy from the sun and convert it into chemical
, energy in food
○ Others use chemical energy in molecules they take in as food
Levels of Organization of Living Things
● Living things are highly organized and structured, following a hierarchy that can be
examined on a scale from small to large
○ atom→ molecules→ organelles+tissues→ organs→ organ system→
organisms→ population→ community→ ecosystem→ biosphere
● Atom- the smallest and most fundamental unit of matter
○ Consists of a nucleus surrounded by electrons
● Molecule- a chemical structure consisting of at least two atoms held together by one or
more chemical bonds
○ Many molecules that are biological important are macromolecules- large
molecules that are typically formed by polymerization
■ A polymer is a large molecule that is made by combining smaller units
called monomers, which are simpler than macromolecules
○ Example of a macromolecule: DNA
● Some cells contain aggregates of macromolecules surrounded by membranes-
organelles
○ Organelles are small structures that exist within cells
○ Example: mitochondria and chloroplasts
● Cell- smallest fundamental unit of structure and function in living organisms
● Prokaryotes- single celled or colonial organisms that do not have membrane bound
nuclei
● Eukaryotes- have membrane bound organelles and a membrane bound nucleus
● In larger organisms, cells combine to form tissues- groups of smaller cells carrying out
similar or related functions
● Organs- collections of tissues grouped together performing a common function
● Organ system- a higher level or organization that consists of functionally related organs
● Organisms- individual living entities
● Population- a species living within a specific area
○ A forest may include many pine trees- the trees represent the population of pine
trees in the forest
● Community- the sum of populations inhabiting a particular area
○ All of the trees, flowers, insects, and other populations in a forest form the
forest’s community
○ The forest itself is an ecosystem
● Ecosystem- consists of all the living things in a particular area together with the abiotic,
non living parts of that environment
○ Ex: nitrogen in soil or rain water
● Biosphere- collection of all ecosystems
○ Represents the zones of life on earth
The Diversity of Life
● Evolution- the process of gradual change during which new species arise from older
species
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