BI110 Study Guide - Final Guide: Reducing Atmosphere, Primitive Cell, Emergence
Modules 73 & 74 Evolution
The seven characteristics of life: an organism is said to be alive if they exhibit the following
characteristics;
1. Must display order
o Specific structure
o Proteins are amino acids in specific order that confers the function of the protein
2. Harness and utilize energy
3. Reproduction
4. Respond to stimuli
o Can adjust their function based on the stimuli
o Example stomata in leaves of cells
5. Organisms exhibit homeostasis
o Organisms try to regulate their internal environment despite external conditions (ex.
Sweating)
6. Growth and Development
7. Evolve
The properties are said to be emergent properties (emerged from simpler processes and on their
own they wouldn’t give rise to life)
Is a virus alive?
• Display multiple characteristics of life
• Display order, contain genetic information
• They reproduce BUT must reproduce using a host cell
• Viruses can evolve, the reason viruses are hard to fight against is because they are
constantly evolving
• Completely dependent on host for survival
History of earth
Oxygen didn’t become abundant until 2.5 billion years ago and that was only because of the
evolution of photosynthetic organism (cyanobacteria) 2.7 billion years ago
Biologically important Macromolecules
• 4 major types of macromolecules important for all forms of life
• Nucleic acids (DNA and RNA)
• Proteins
• Lipids
• Carbohydrates
All except lipids are polymers made up from simpler building blocks, and all are made
within cells by complex metabolic pathways
Formation of Biologically Important Molecules
Oparin-haldane Hypothesis
Looked at conditions billions of years ago (heat, etc)
• Organic molecules that form building blocks of life that could have been formed in the
absence of life in the conditions that prevailed on primitive (primordial earth)
• Reducing atmosphere that lacked oxygen
find more resources at oneclass.com
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Document Summary
The properties are said to be emergent properties (emerged from simpler processes and on their own they wouldn"t give rise to life) Oxygen didn"t become abundant until 2. 5 billion years ago and that was only because of the evolution of photosynthetic organism (cyanobacteria) 2. 7 billion years ago. Biologically important macromolecules: 4 major types of macromolecules important for all forms of life, nucleic acids (dna and rna, proteins, lipids, carbohydrates. All except lipids are polymers made up from simpler building blocks, and all are made within cells by complex metabolic pathways. Modules 73 & 74 evolution: lots of h2s, co2, nh3, ch4, h2o, allows for synthesis of complex organic molecules. Some evidence is presented that organic molecules can be formed a-abiotically; it exists but does not give us life. Protocells: protocells; group of abiotically- produced organic molecules that are surrounded by a membrane or membrane like structure.
