Levels of Life Worksheet SCI/230 Version 7

Associate Program Material

Levels of Life Worksheet
Complete all three parts of this worksheet. Part I: Atomic Structure Fill in the missing information on atomic structure and organic compounds.

Atomic Structure Subatomic Particle Proton Neutron Electron Charge Positive Neutral Negative Location in an Atom Nucleus Nucleus Spherical (outside nucleusorbitalsorclouds)

Organic Compounds Large Biological Molecule Atoms it Contains Monomer(s) Function(s) in Living Organisms

Carbohydrates

C, H, and O

Monosaccharides

Source of energy

Lipid

C, H, and O

Glycerol and fatty acids

Cushion and insulate organs; builds cell membranes Helps chemical reactions, provides support and structure, provides transport within bodies and provides movement of body Stores and transmits genetic information

Protein

C, H, O, N, and S

Amino acids

Nucleic Acids

C, H, O, N, and P

Nucleotides

Levels of Life Worksheet SCI/230 Version 7

Part II: Characteristics of Living Organisms Seven characteristics distinguish an object or thing from an actual living organism. All seven characteristics must be present simultaneously for something to be considered living. Fill in the remaining characteristics in the following table.

Characteristics of a Living Organism 1. Order exhibit complex but ordered organization. (Simon, Reece, & Dickey, (2010), p. 4). 2. Regulation- the environment outside of an organism can change but the organism is able to internally adjust to maintain or regulate appropriate levels for survival. (Simon, Reece, & Dickey, (2010), p. 4). 3. Growth and development- the information provided by genetics which determines the growth and development patterns of an organism. (Simon, Reece, & Dickey, (2010), p. 4). 4. Energy utilization- the energy an organism takes in to use in preforming life activities. (Simon, Reece, & Dickey, (2010), p. 4). 5. Response to the environment- All organisms respond to environmental stimuli. (Simon, Reece, & Dickey, (2010), p. 4). 6. Reproduction- Organisms reproduce their own kind-(Simon, Reece, & Dickey, (2010), p. 4). 7. Evolution. Reproduction underlies the capacity of populations to change (evolve) over time.- (Simon, Reece, & Dickey, (2010), p. 4). Part III: Write a 200- to 300-word explanation of how atoms make up organic compounds, which make up all living organisms, addressing all three domains.

Living organisms have complicated organizational structure. The most ordinary single-celled life forms even have a complex structure that will make itself in more complicated life forms. All organisms are comprised of cells (Simon, Reece, & Dickey, 2010, Ch4). There are three known areas for life organization. These are known as Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya. Based on Simon, Reece, and Dickey (2010, Chapter1), the entire three areas consist of single-celled organisms. Bacteria and Arhaea are prokaryotic life forms while Eukarya consists of eukaryotic organisms, both uni- and multi- cellular. These entire life forms in the areas are accepted to be living things. If one studies how atoms and compounds are arranged to make a cell, it will also explicate how those parts are utilized to produce both uni-cellular and

Levels of Life Worksheet SCI/230 Version 7

multicellular life forms. First, there are fundamental features that all living organisms (singlecelled and multicellular) must execute to survive (Simon, Reece & Dickey, 2010, Ch 1). Almost the entire features and purposes depend on organic compounds. The article focuses on instances that utilize DNA. All living things, in all areas, utilize DNA for genetic data (Simon, Reece, & Dickey 2010, Ch 1). This is commonly recognized with various acceptable examination and winding up to sustain. One of the instances is for energy usage, a sequence of complex nutrition and energy procedure reactions must occur. Undoubtedly discussed in both Chapters 6 and 7, Simon, Reece and Dickey (2010), demonstrate that these can only be effective if the needed enzymes are available (p96 & p 115-6). Chapter 3 describes enzymes as specific kinds of proteins that serve as catalysts for organic reactions (Simon, Reece & Dickey, p46). Without these enzymes, reactions like photosynthesis and respiration (involved with energy usage) would never happen at an efficient rate, and therefore life would be inexistent (Enzymes intheBody, 2012). Energy usage includes photosynthesis, heterotrophic nutrition and respiration. These reactions include inorganic compounds and organic compounds. Based on the University of Phoenix Week 2 supplements Overview of Cellular Respiration and Overview of Photosynthesis atoms in these compounds are reorganized and the energy in their bonds are kept in organic molecules like glucose, carbohydrate, or in large energy bonds of ATP, a nucleic acid (2010). Some energy or atoms not utilized for life actions can be kept in lipids for future usage or utilized to construct vital phospholipids in cellular system like the cell membrane (Wyatt, n.d.). Every time, these molecular re-organization reactions need enzymes to guide the reaction. In conclusion, to conduct all complicated chemical reactions for life, atoms within the molecules are separated and re-organized to generate the required organic compounds for living organisms. Each

Levels of Life Worksheet SCI/230 Version 7

particular kind of organic compound has a particular purpose and has a link to the construction, division or utilization of the others. Atoms provide organic compounds which complete living things and their features of life.

Levels of Life Worksheet SCI/230 Version 7

References Buzzle.com (2012) Enzymes in the Body. Retrieved from http://www.buzzle.com/articles/enzymes-in-the-body.html Simon, E. J., Reece, J. B., & Dickey, J. L. (2010). Campbell essential biology with physiology (3rd ed.). San Francisco, CA: Pearson Benjamin Cummings. University of Phoenix. (2010). Overview of Cellular Respiration. [Multimedia].Retrieved from University of Phoenix, SCI 230Introduction to life science course website. University of Phoenix. (2010).Overview of Photosynthesis [Multimedia]. Retrieved from University of Phoenix, SCI 230Introduction to life science course website. Wyatt, R.(n.d) WKU BIO133-Lipids. Retrieved from http://bioweb.wku.edu/courses/BIOL115/Wyatt/Biochem/Lipid/lipid1.htm