Chapter 2

Are We Alone in the Universe?

Objectives
• List the commonalities shared by living
organisms.
• Explain how the polarity of water allows it to
participate in chemical reactions.
• State the four biological macromolecules and
explain the function of each
What is LIFE?
PICTURE PERFECT GAME
2.1 What Does Life Require?
A Definition of
2.1 What Does Life Require?
A Definition of Life
But, all Earth organisms…
• have a common set of biological molecules
• can maintain homeostasis
• can evolve
• require liquid water
2.1 What Does Life Require?
The Properties of Water
• Elements: fundamental forms of matter
• Atoms: the smallest units of an element
• Atoms are composed of protons, neutrons, and
electrons
2.1 What Does Life Require?
The Properties of Water
• Protons (positive
charge) + neutrons =
nucleus
• Electrons (negative
charge) are outside the
nucleus.

Figure 2.3
2.1 What Does Life Require?
The Properties of Water

• Molecule: two or more atoms held together by

chemical bonds
• Water molecule: two hydrogen atoms bonded to
one oxygen atom
2.1 What Does Life Require?
The Properties of Water
• Water is a good solvent (helps chemical
reactions)
• Solute: what is being dissolved
• Solution: the solute in the solvent
Simple Experiment
2.1 What Does Life Require?
The Properties of Water
• Water is a polar molecule:
• Oxygen side is slightly
negative
• Hydrogen side is slightly
positive
• When molecules have no
charges, they are nonpolar

Figure 2.4
2.1 What Does Life Require?
The Properties of Water
• Water molecules tend to stick together:
cohesion
• Hydrogen bond: the weak attraction between
the hydrogen atom of one water molecule and
the oxygen atom of another
2.1 What Does Life Require?
The Properties of Water
• Water can dissolve salts
and hydrophilic (water–
loving) molecules
because it is polar.

Figure 2.6
2.1 What Does Life Require?
The Properties of Water
• Nonpolar molecules, such as oil, do not contain
charged atoms.
• These atoms are called hydrophobic (water–
hating).
2.1 What Does Life Require?
The Properties of Water
• Water can dissolve acids and bases.
• The pH scale is a measure of the relative
amounts of acids and bases in a solution.
• pH greater than 7 = basic
• pH lower than 7 = acidic
• Pure water = 7 - neutral
Figure 2.7
2.1 What Does Life Require?
Organic Chemistry
• All life on Earth is based on organic chemistry:
the chemistry of the element carbon.
Planet Mars must have…
• Carbon makes up most of the mass of living
organisms.
• Why?
2.1 What Does Life Require?
Organic Chemistry
• Carbon: a molecular TinkerToy
• Can bond to 4 different atoms at once
• Carbon can make macromolecules
2.1 What Does Life Require?
Structure and Function of
Macromolecules
Carbohydrates:
• molecules of carbon,
oxygen, and hydrogen
• Major source of energy
for cells

Figure 2.12
2.1 What Does Life Require?
Structure and Function of
Macromolecules
Proteins:
• polymers of amino
acids; joined by peptide
bonds

Figure 2.13
2.1 What Does Life Require?
Structure and Function of Macromolecules
• Proteins are made up of carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, and
nitrogen.

• There are 20 different amino acids, with different

chemical properties.

• Different combinations of amino acids give proteins

different properties.
2.1 What Does Life Require?
Structure and Function of Macromolecules
• Lipids: hydrophobic; composed mostly of
carbon and hydrogen
• Three types:

Figure 2.14
2.1 What Does Life Require?
Structure and Function of Macromolecules
• Nucleic acids: polymers of nucleotides
• Nucleotide: sugar + a phosphate + a
nitrogenous base

Figure 2.15c
2.1 What Does Life Require?
Structure and Function of Macromolecules
• Nucleotides are of two types: RNA and DNA,
depending on the sugar.

• DNA is the hereditary material in nearly all

organisms.
Individual Activity
• Create a Poem

• Importance of Water in Our Life

• Note: Properties of water must be included in

the poem
2.1 What Does Life Require?
Structure and Function of
Macromolecules
• The structure of a DNA
molecule is a double helix.

Figure 2.15a
Case Study
• A Case of 25 Eggs per Day
• An 88-year-old man had eaten 25 eggs per day for many years,
yet his serum cholesterol was only in the range of 150-200
mg/dL. [New England Journal of Medicine 324:896-900.]
Case Study 2
• A Case of Aversion to Sugar
• A 24-year-old man experienced abdominal pain, diarrhea, and
distention whenever he consumed sugar. This was a life-long
problem. [New England Journal of Medicine 316:438-442.]
2.1 What Does Life Require?
Structure and Function of Macromolecules

PLAY Animation—Nucelic Acids

2.1 What Does Life Require?
Structure and Function of
Macromolecules
• Bonding between bases on
opposite strands follows strict
base-pairing rules:
• A with T
• G with C

Figure 2.15b
2.2 Life on Earth
Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells
• All cells on Earth are either prokaryotic or eukaryotic.
• Prokaryotic cells are smaller and simpler in structure.
• They probably resemble the earliest cells to arise on Earth.
• Some structures in the Martian meteorite resemble them.
2.2 Life on Earth
Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells
• All cells are surrounded by a plasma membrane.
• Made of a phospholipids bilayer: hydrophobic tails orient inside
the membrane, away from water
• Fluid mosaic: lipids and proteins can move about within the
membrane
• Semipermeable: some molecules can cross and some can’t
2.2 Life on Earth
Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells
• Prokaryotes do not have a true nucleus.

Figure 2.17b
2.2 Life on Earth
Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells
• Eukaryotic cells are much more complex.
• Have true nuclei surrounded by a membrane
• Also have membrane-bound organelles with specialized jobs
2.2 Life on Earth
Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells
• Mitochondria: provide energy for the cell, using oxygen
• Chloroplasts: sites of photosynthesis
• Endoplasmic reticulum: involved in protein or lipid synthesis
• Golgi apparatus: modifies and sorts proteins
2.2 Life on Earth
Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells

PLAY Animation—A Comparison of Prokaryotic

and Eukaryotic Cells
2.2 Life on Earth
Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells

Figure 2.18
2.2 Life on Earth
The Tree of Life and Evolutionary Theory
• All Earth organisms share many similarities:
• Same basic biochemistry, with same types of macromolecules
• All organisms consist of cells
• Cells always have phospholipids bilayer plasma membrane
• Eukaryotes share most of the same organelles.
2.2 Life on Earth
Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells
• This unity of life is best explained by a tree of life, with
modern species having evolved from common ancestors.

Figure 2.19
2.2 Life on Earth
Suggested Media Enhancements:
Tour of a Plant Cell
Tour of an Animal Cell

To access these animations go to folder

C_Animations_and_Video_Files and open the BioFlix folder.