BIOL240 : BIOL240 – Full Class Notes.docx
30 Sep 2013
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Document Summary
The science of microorganisms (very small, unicellular organisms: single-celled microscopic organisms. The discipline is just over a century old. Has given rise to molecular biology and biotechnology. Produce various chemicals for different functions: metabolism. Uptake of chemicals from the environment, their transformation within the cell, and elimination of wastes into the environment. The cell is thus an open system. All microbial life (viruses don"t have this; are they really alive?: reproduction (growth) Chemicals from the environment are turned into new cells under the direction of preexisting cells: differentiation. Formation of a new cell structure such as a spore, usually as part of a cellular life cycle (not all cells, but some: communication. All cells communicate or interact primarily by means of chemicals that are released or taken up: movement. Some living organisms are often capable of self-propulsion (flagella; motor: evolution. All cells evolve to display new biological properties. Phylogenetic trees show the evolutionary relationships between cells.
