The Molecules of Life

Among the many events that occur in the life of a cell are a multitude of specific chemical
transformations, which provide the cell with usable energy and the molecules needed to form its structure and
coordinate its activities. These biochemical reactions and other cellular processes are governed by basic
principles of chemistry reviewed in Chapter 2. Here we briefly describe the functions of the main types of
chemicals that compose cells. Throughout many later chapters we will focus on the interactions and
transformations of these molecules.
Water, inorganic ions, and a large array of relatively small organic molecules (e.g., sugars,
vitamins,fatty acids) account for 75 – 80 percent of living matter by weight. Of these small molecules, water is
by far the most abundant. The remainder of living matter consists of macromolecules, including proteins,
polysaccharides, and DNA (Figure 1-2). Cells acquire and use these two size classes of molecules in
fundamentally different ways. Ions, water, and many small organic molecules are imported into the cell. Cells
also make and alter many small organic molecules by a series of different chemical reactions. In contrast, cells
can obtain macromolecules only by making them. Their synthesis entails linking together a specific set of small
molecules (monomers) to form polymers through repetition of a single type of chemical-linkage reaction.

GROWTH
All living organisms have the ability to grow and change. A seed may look like a pebble, but under the
right conditions it will sprout and form a seedling that will grow into a larger plant. The pebble of course will
not grow. Even the smallest bacteria must grow. This bacteria will reproduce by dividing into two separate
bacterium. If the parent bacterium does not grow, then each subsequent generation will just be smaller then the
previous generation. Eventually the bacteria will be too small to function properly.

REPRODUCTION
All living organisms must have the ability to reproduce. Living things make more organisms like
themselves. Whether the organism is a rabbit, or a tree, or a bacterium, life will create more life. If a species
cannot create the next generation, the species will go extinct. Reproduction is the process of making the next
generation and may be a sexual or an asexual process. Sexual reproduction involves two parents and the fusion
of gametes, haploid sex cells from each parent. Sexual reproduction produces offspring that are genetically
unique and increasesgenetic variation within a species. Asexual reproduction involves only one parent. It occurs
without a fusion of gametes and produces offspring that are all genetically identical to the parent.
THE BASICS OF METABOLISM
Metabolism, the system of cellular activity, is drivenby chemical reactions when energy is absorbed.
The chemical reactions follow metabolic pathways.
The metabolic pathways between the first primitiveorganisms and the complex organisms of today are
the same.
DEVELOPMENT OF METABOLISM
The process of metabolism evolved early in Earth's history because the cellular processes
between the primitive bacterial organisms and animals are similar.
How is genetic information preserved?
All organisms have molecules called nucleic acids, which contain genetic informationpassed down during
reproduction.o There are two types of nucleic acids, DNA and RNA.o RNA is believed to be the first nucleic
acid on Earth because it was responsible for thepackaging of proteins, which help drive cellular process
CELL THEORY
In biology, cell theory is a scientific theory which describes the properties of cells. These cells are the
basic unit of structure in all organisms and also the basic unit of reproduction. With continual improvements
made to microscopes over time, magnification technology advanced enough to discover cells in the 17th
century. This discovery is largely attributed to Robert Hooke, and began the scientific study of cells, also known
as cell biology. Over a century later, many debates about cells began amongst scientists. Most of these debates
involved the nature of cellular regeneration, and the idea of cells as a fundamental unit of life. Cell theory was
eventually formulated in 1839. This is usually credited to Matthias Schleiden and Theodor Schwann. However,
many other scientists like Rudolf Virchow contributed to the theory. Cell theory has become the foundation of
biology and is the most widely accepted explanation of the function of cells.
The three tenets to the cell theory are as described below:

1. All living organisms are composed of one or more cells. (However, thisis considered a controversy
because non-cellular life such as viruses are disputed as a life form.[1] See Non-cellular life.)
2. The cell is the basic unit of structure and organization in organisms.
3. Cells arise from pre-existing cells.
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a molecule that carries the genetic instructions used in the growth,
development, functioning and reproduction of all known living organisms and many viruses. DNA
and RNA are nucleic acids; alongside proteins, lipids and complex carbohydrates (polysaccharides), they are
one of the four major types of macromolecules that are essential for all known forms of life. Most DNA
molecules consist of two biopolymer strands coiled around each other to form a double helix. DNA stores
biological information. The DNA backbone is resistant to cleavage, and both strands of the double-stranded
structure store the same biological information. This information is replicated as and when the two strands
separate. A large part of DNA (more than 98% for humans) is non-coding, meaning that these sections do not
serve as patterns for protein sequences.

MICROSCOPIC AND MACROSCOPIC ORGANISM

"Microscopic" and "macroscopic" are antonyms; the word "microscopic" describes something that is so
small that it can only be seen with the aid of a microscope, while "macroscopic" refers either to something that
can be seen with the naked eye or, alternatively, something that is large or immense in scale.