Characteristics of life

Question 1

What are the seven pillars?

Answer 1

PICERAS: Program, Improvisation, Compartmentalization, Energy, Regeneration, Adaptability, Seclusion

Question 2

Describe Program.

Answer 2

Ingredients + kinetics of interactions between ingredients in an organized unit. All living organism use DNA as a program.

Question 3

Describe Improvisation (a form of adaptability).

Answer 3

Organisms have no control on the changes of the env., so they need and ability to change its program to survive. (long)

Question 4

Describe Compartmentalization.

Answer 4

Limited volume, membrane to keep all ingredients together. Cells, organs are compartments specific to certain functions. Protection from the outside.

Question 5

Describe Energy.

Answer 5

Molecules coming in & out (O2, CO2), to compensate and keep the system going. Major source = The Sun.

Question 6

Describe Regenaration.

Answer 6

Since the metabolic system with enzymes and chemicals is constantly reacting, there are occasional losses. So organism resynthesizes and replaces cells as they degrade.

Question 7

Describe Adaptability.

Answer 7

Behavioural response to pain, hunger, quick sensation = feedback from the body to stop the hurting. (quick)

Question 8

Describe Seclusion.

Answer 8

Prevent pathways to mix and assure all is doing what it is designed for. All reactions within a cell are receive selective signals to assure a response to any env. change.

Question 9

Characteristic OS: reproduction, how?

Answer 9

1st duplication of DNA.
2nd equal division of the cells.
3rd. genes are passed along to the offspring to assure belonging to same species.

Question 10

Characteristic OS: regulation, how?, why?

Answer 10

To coordinate internal functions, respond to stimuli and env. stresses. (Homeostasis).

Question 11

What is homeostasis?

Answer 11

Greek words for “same” and “steady,” refers to any process that living things use to actively maintain fairly stable conditions necessary for survival. Maintains steady levels of temperature and other vital conditions such as the water, salt, sugar, protein, fat, calcium and oxygen contents of the blood.

Question 12

Characteristic OS: growth & development, what?

Answer 12

Result of genes providing specific instructions to direct cellular growth, getting bigger, getting larger, getting more complex.

Question 13

Characteristic OS: order, what?

Answer 13

Organized and coordinated structures of 1 or more cells. All organized unit have distinct function (organs, tissues,…)

Question 14

Characteristics OS: sensitivity or response to a stimuli, how?

Answer 14

Response to touch, light, smell,…
Movement toward = positive response.
Movement away = negative response.