...Are we Alive?...
Lecture 2: What is life?Lecture 2: What is life?
Now playing: Soft Cell
“Tainted Love”
Lecture 2 : Goals-Lecture 2 : Goals-1. Definitions of life & death1. Definitions of life & death
2. Understand concepts of life, death, organization,
structure, function and metabolism
2. Understand concepts of life, death, organization,
structure, function and metabolism
3. Relate topics to methods of scientific inquiry, personal
experience and knowing
3. Relate topics to methods of scientific inquiry, personal
experience and knowing
Assignment: Assignment:
1. Read: Start Reading Assignment for lecture 3 1. Read: Start Reading Assignment for lecture 3
2. Websites:
http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/maderinquiry/crit3.html http://www.purefood.org/meatlink.htmlhttp://www.mad-cow.org/ http://www.purefood.org/meatlink.html http://gened.emc.maricopa.edu/bio/bio181/BIOBK/BioBookGlyc.html http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/maderinquiry /crit6.html http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/maderinquiry/crit3.html
2. Websites:
http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/maderinquiry/crit3.html http://www.purefood.org/meatlink.htmlhttp://www.mad-cow.org/ http://www.purefood.org/meatlink.html http://gened.emc.maricopa.edu/bio/bio181/BIOBK/BioBookGlyc.html http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/maderinquiry /crit6.html http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/maderinquiry/crit3.html
Where does life come from?
At least 3 theories:
Where does life come from?
At least 3 theories:
•Neo-Darwinian Evolution or Neo-Darwinian Evolution or “Macroevolution”“Macroevolution”
•Divine CreationDivine Creation
•Cosmic Inoculation:Cosmic Inoculation: PamspermiaPamspermia
It’s Difficult to Understand Life and
Death
• No first hand, personal experience or informationNo first hand, personal experience or information
• No cognitive remembrance of or asNo cognitive remembrance of or as
life started…life started…
• No cognitive experience: can’t remember No cognitive experience: can’t remember
pre- or non-existence… pre- or non-existence…
Characteristics of DeathCharacteristics of Death
• Absence of lifeAbsence of life• Absence of lifeAbsence of life
•Absence of the characteristics of lifeAbsence of the characteristics of life•Absence of the characteristics of lifeAbsence of the characteristics of life
• Total and permanent cessationTotal and permanent cessation
of all vital (living) functionof all vital (living) function
• Total and permanent cessationTotal and permanent cessation
of all vital (living) functionof all vital (living) function
Definition of LifeDefinition of Life
•The quality that distinguishes a vital and functional organism from
inanimate objects.
•The quality that distinguishes a vital and functional organism from
inanimate objects.
•A principle or force that underlies the distinctive quality of animate
beings.
•A principle or force that underlies the distinctive quality of animate
beings.• An embodied organismic state
characterized by the capacity for metabolism, growth, reaction to stimuli and reproduction.
Conditions for Life on Earth:The Anthropic Principle
Conditions for Life on Earth:The Anthropic Principle
• 1st Cause or Primary Mover
• 2nd Cause or Big Bang• 3rd Cause or Physics• 4th Cause or Chemistry• 5th Cause or Biology• 6th Cause or Ecology• 7th Cause or Environment
• 1st Cause or Primary Mover
• 2nd Cause or Big Bang• 3rd Cause or Physics• 4th Cause or Chemistry• 5th Cause or Biology• 6th Cause or Ecology• 7th Cause or Environment
Physical, Chemical and Biological Properties of Life
Physical, Chemical and Biological Properties of Life
• Dynamic = changing• Dynamic = changing
• Elements• Elements• Molecules • Molecules
• Compounds• Compounds
• Macromolecules• Macromolecules
• Enzymes• Enzymes• Electrical phenomena• Electrical phenomena
• Optical activity of enzymes• Optical activity of enzymes
Properties of LifeContinued:
Properties of LifeContinued:
• Composed of building blocks = cells• Composed of building blocks = cells
• Reproduction• Reproduction
• Adaptability• Adaptability
• Irritability• Irritability
• Growth• Growth• Metabolism• Metabolism
• Exhibit organization = tissue, organs• Exhibit organization = tissue, organs
• Uniformity of class• Uniformity of class
Reproduction
Passing on the biochemical instructions (genes) to the next generation
Reproduction
Passing on the biochemical instructions (genes) to the next generation
Adaptation
An inherited characteristic that enables an organism to survive
Adaptation
An inherited characteristic that enables an organism to survive
Irritability
An immediate response to stimulus = nervous system
Life’s CharacteristicsLife’s Characteristics
IndividualsIndividuals
Symbiotic organismsSymbiotic organisms
Life’s OrganizationLife’s OrganizationAtomsAtoms
MacromoleculesMacromolecules
TissuesTissues
OrgansOrgans
Organ SystemsOrgan Systems
OrganellesOrganelles
CellsCells
Amino AcidsAmino Acids
PopulationsPopulationsMunn Field Riot 1998Munn Field Riot 1998
MetabolismMetabolism
• Animal model
• Plant model
• Animal model
• Plant model
Animal MetabolismAnimal Metabolism
Steady
State
Steady
State
Growth and DevelopmentGrowth and Development
RespirationRespiration
H2O CycleH2O Cycle
Energy Energy
Detritus CyclesDetritus Cycles
OffspringOffspring
ReproductionReproduction
SynthesisSynthesis
MetabolismMetabolism
Nutrient CyclesNutrient Cycles
Self PerpetuationSelf Perpetuation
ChangeChange
Raw MaterialsRaw Materials
Plant MetabolismPlant Metabolism
MitochondrionMitochondrionChloroplastChloroplast
Cellular respirationCellular respirationEnergy richEnergy rich
O2O2
Energy poorEnergy poor
CO2 + H2OCO2 + H2O
SunlightSunlight
FusionFusion
4H 1 He + e
E = MC2
ATP
Biosynthesis
Active transport
ATP
Biosynthesis
Active transport
Movement
Bioluminescence
Electricity
Movement
Bioluminescence
Electricity
CarbohydrateCarbohydratePhotosynthesisPhotosynthesis
What is the simplest form of life?
What is the simplest form of life?
HIVHIV
• Virus = RNA or DNA wrapped in protein coat
(e.g. HIV, poliomyellitis)
• Virus = RNA or DNA wrapped in protein coat
(e.g. HIV, poliomyellitis)
• Phytoplasma and Mycoplasma = simplest cell, lack a cell wall, DNA for 200 functions (walking pneumonia, STD’s)
• Phytoplasma and Mycoplasma = simplest cell, lack a cell wall, DNA for 200 functions (walking pneumonia, STD’s)
Pneumonia mycoplasmaPneumonia mycoplasma
More simple lifeMore simple life
scapiesscapies
• Prions = 1/100 to 1/1000 the size of a virus, composed of proteins (Scapies, Multiple Sclerosis, Lou Gehrig’s disease)
• Prions = 1/100 to 1/1000 the size of a virus, composed of proteins (Scapies, Multiple Sclerosis, Lou Gehrig’s disease)
Cadang cadangCadang cadang
• Viroid = Tightly wound DNA or RNA (coconut cadang cadang, bunchy top)• Viroid = Tightly wound DNA or RNA (coconut cadang cadang, bunchy top)
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy: Prions in action
Transmission via contaminated sheep proteins fed to cattle in Great Britain
05000
10000150002000025000
300003500040000
Cases
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
Year
BSE
Science is all about description.
How Biologists Measure Size: Metrics
Science is all about description.
How Biologists Measure Size: Metrics
Assignment: Learn the metric measuring system and life sizes
Lecture 2: What is life? What is life? SummarySummary
Lecture 2: What is life? What is life? SummarySummary
Now playing: Soft Cell
“Tainted Love”
OriginsOrigins
CharacteristicsCharacteristics
DefinitionsDefinitions
PropertiesProperties
OrganizationOrganization
EnergyEnergy
CommunicationCommunication
Simple forms of lifeSimple forms of life
How living organisms are described: e.g. measured, photographed,
weighed, dissected, chemically analyzed, etc.
How living organisms are described: e.g. measured, photographed,
weighed, dissected, chemically analyzed, etc.
Life is what happens when you’re busy making other
plans.
--John Lennon (1940-1980)
British singer/songwriter
Life is what happens when you’re busy making other
plans.
--John Lennon (1940-1980)
British singer/songwriter