Biology 1001A Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Lipid Bilayer, Reducing Atmosphere, Hydrogen Sulfide
Document Summary
There is no difference, at atomic level, between living and non-living. Cells obey same physic laws in abiotic and living. Increasing in size and number of cells: evolves, changing over time to adapt to the environment. Viruses straddle the line between abiotic and living. They reproduce and evolve, but this all depends on infecting other cells. They are unable to carry out these processes without another cell. Most scientists do not consider viruses to be alive. Called emergent because they come from many simpler interactions that do not have the properties found at higher levels. Example: utilizing energy comes from molecules, proteins, and biological membranes all interacting in a metabolic process. Example: termites build their nest cell by cell, not realizing the outcome or what is being done, until the nest is finished. Earth was formed about 4. 6 billion years ago. Extinction of dinosaurs was 65 million years ago. Earth lies within the habitable zone around the sun.