Living things and biological organization

Question 1

What are the seven characteristics of living organisms?

Answer 1

1. Organization: emergent properties exist at each level.
2. Responsiveness: an ability to respond to the environment
3. Reproduction: organisms give rise to new organisms
4. Metabolism: rearranging atoms in molecules to make and
   consume ATP
5. Growth and development: increase in size and change in
   physiology
6. Movement: ability to move substances in the body or move
   the organism in the environment
7. Evolutionary adaptation: change over time to better fit the
   environment

Question 2

What is metabolism?

Answer 2

Rearranging atoms in molecules to make and consume ATP (Adenosine triphosphate is the source of energy for use and storage at the cellular level.)

Metabolism requires materials from the environment, as in
when gases are respired, harmful substances are excreted, and food is ingested and digested. How are gases, harmful substances, and food molecules transported throughout the body?
Answer: Body fluids

Question 3

What are the types of body fluids?

Answer 3

1. Intracellular fluids
2. Extracellular fluids

Question 4

What is intracellular fluids?

Answer 4

This is the fluid found inside the cell that suspends a cell’s contents. It is also referred to as cytosol or cytoplasm.
Types of body fluids: intracellular fluids
It has important properties: It has a higher conc. of potassium , lower conc.
of sodium , higher conc. of proteins compared to fluid outside the cell.
It also contains small energy reserves of
carbohydrates, amino acids, and lipids.

Question 5

What is extracellular fluids?

Answer 5

Fluid found outside, around, and between cells, and includes interstitial fluid and plasma. It had important properties: This fluid influences the diffusion of nutrients, wastes, and gases into and out of cells. It has a lower conc. of potassium and higher conc. of sodium than intracellular fluid.

Interstitial fluids: fluid found between
the cells within a tissue that allows for
communication between cells of the
tissue and diffusion of nutrients and
wastes.
Plasma: fluid found in the circulatory
system, the liquid portion of blood. This
fluid suspends blood cells, ions, and
gasses.

Question 6

What is anatomy?

Answer 6

It is the study of internal and external structures,
and the relationships between these structures.
Anatomy can be categorized according to scale:

Gross anatomy: studies surface structures, regions
of the body, and internal organs.

Microscopic anatomy: studies cells (cytology) and
tissues (histology).

Question 7

What is physiology?

Answer 7

It is the study of the process of vital functions,
often described in cellular or biochemical terms.

Physiology can be categorized under four specialties: cellular, special (specific organs),
systemic (organ systems), and pathological
(diseases).

Question 8

What are the levels of organizations?

Answer 8

1. Chemical/molecular level
2. Organelles/Cellular level
3. Tissue level
4. Organ level
5. Organ system level
6. Organism level

Question 9

What are the relationships between the levels of organization?

Answer 9

As we progress through and up the levels, we will observe a
phenomenon called COMPLEMENTARITY where structure or form is closely related to function.
Biological structures at EVERY LEVEL are adapted and
specialized to perform specific roles, and if something occurs
to affect structure, function will be affected too.

Question 10

What are the emergent properties?

Answer 10

Lower levels make up the levels above them. As we progress up
the levels, we see an increase in complexity. Complexity occurs
due to NOVEL EMERGENT PROPERTIES.
Emergent properties
At each level of complexity, the arrangement and interaction of
the different components gives NEW properties that were absent
at the lower levels. Consciousness and our organ systems are
products of emergent properties (more than the sum of their
parts).

Question 11

What is an atom? What is a compund and what is a molucule.

Answer 11

The smallest unit of matter
that is still itself. The components that make up
an atom are:
1. Proton [+ charge]
2. Neutron [no (0) charge]
3. Electron [- charge]

Atoms come together to create COMPOUNDS (2 or more atoms
of different elements ionically bound) and MOLECULES (2 or
more atoms of different or identical elements covalently bound)

p+ and n0 are found in the
centre, making up the NUCLEUS of the atom.

Question 12

What are the 4 major classes of large biological molecules? (The Biomolecules)

Answer 12

1. Monosaccharides
2. Fatty acids
3. Amino acids
4. Nucleotides

The four BIOMOLECULES
are also referred to as
monomers. These monomers
are the building blocks for the
MACROMOLECULES

Question 13

What are Macromolecules?

Answer 13

Macromolecules are important
components of living cells, as their specific arrangements create emergent properties: organelles!

Organelles include the nucleus,
mitochondria, and endoplasmic reticulum.

Question 14

What is the cell?

Answer 14

The cell is the smallest unit of life. Organelles and other structures are arranged in such a way to produce the emergent properties of a cell.

Cells of the body include
cardiomyocytes, hepatocytes,
keratinocytes, enterocytes,
neurons, and many more!

Question 15

What are the four primary tissue types in the body?

Answer 15

epithelial, connective, muscle, and nervous tissue .

Question 16

What are tissue membranes?

Answer 16

They are physical barriers that line the outside of the body, organs, certain internal passageways, and the inside of moveable joints.

Tissue membranes are composed of only two primary tissue types:
1) an epithelium and
2) underlying connective tissue

Question 17

What is the mucous membrane?

Answer 17

Commonly found in passageways of the respiratory, digestive, urinary, and reproductive systems (which open to the
environment).

Tissue membrane: mucous membrane On some surfaces, mucous (secreted by cells or glands) is used to trap pathogens, dust, and debris, while on others, it helps dissolve nutrients.

The epithelium is covered with mucous and is anchored to a connective tissue underneath.

Question 18

What is the serous membrane?

Answer 18

Commonly found as linings of sealed internal cavities
surrounding the lungs, heart, and abdominal organs.

Tissue membrane: serous membrane The surface is covered by a serous fluid, secreted by surface cells, and is used to reduce friction between organs and cavity walls.

The epithelium is covered by serous fluid and is anchored to an underlying loose connective tissue. Serous fluid is also commonly produced by our
salivary glands, along with mucous

Question 19

What is the cutaneous membrane?

Answer 19

This tissue membrane lines the outer surface of the body and
is commonly called the skin.

Tissue membrane: cutaneous membrane
The surface of this membrane is dry and inhospitable to
microbes. Its thickened nature protects against abrasion while
keratin provides toughness and waterproofing.

The epithelium is thickened by dead cells and anchored to an
underlying loose connective tissue.

This membrane is also responsible for thermoregulation, i.e.
sweating

Question 20

What is the synovial membrane?

Answer 20

This tissue membrane occurs lining the inside
surface of your joint capsules.

The epithelium has synovial cells that secrete a fluid lubricating the moveable joint.

The epithelium is thin and anchored to an underlying loose connective tissue.

Question 21

How is an organ made?

Answer 21

Tissues are organized together to produce the emergent properties of our organs. Each organ is made up of a combination of the four primary tissue types.