BIO-8 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Thermal Pollution, Coral Bleaching, Body Plan
Document Summary
Heat causes biological molecules to change shape. Heat accelerates chemical reactions by increasing molecular movement. The rate of most biological processes increases 2 to 4 times for each 10c rise in temp. Q10 value: a ratio of a physiological process rate at one temp to the rate of that process when the temp is 10c cooler. Proteins and other biological molecules become less table, may not function properly, and may denature (i. e. , open up). Fats become fluid with heat, and stiff with cold. Thermal pollution: changing the temperature of an environment via human discharges (e. g. , effluent from nuclear power plants). Some bacteria are thermophilic (heat-loving) and can live at temperatures up to. Ex: some archaebacterial can live in hot springs at temps up to 110c. The crystal structure of ice can damage living cells. Marine vertebrates are susceptible to freezing; added solutes in seawater lower freezing point to -1. 9c, whereas the freezing point of water in animals is higher.
