...Are we Alive?...

Lecture 2: What is life?Lecture 2: What is life?

Now playing: Soft Cell

“Tainted Love”

Lecture 2 : Goals-Lecture 2 : Goals-1. Definitions of life & death1. Definitions of life & death

2. Understand concepts of life, death, organization,

structure, function and metabolism

2. Understand concepts of life, death, organization,

structure, function and metabolism

3. Relate topics to methods of scientific inquiry, personal

experience and knowing

3. Relate topics to methods of scientific inquiry, personal

experience and knowing

Assignment: Assignment:

1. Read: Start Reading Assignment for lecture 3 1. Read: Start Reading Assignment for lecture 3

2. Websites:

http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/maderinquiry/crit3.html http://www.purefood.org/meatlink.htmlhttp://www.mad-cow.org/ http://www.purefood.org/meatlink.html http://gened.emc.maricopa.edu/bio/bio181/BIOBK/BioBookGlyc.html http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/maderinquiry /crit6.html http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/maderinquiry/crit3.html

2. Websites:

http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/maderinquiry/crit3.html http://www.purefood.org/meatlink.htmlhttp://www.mad-cow.org/ http://www.purefood.org/meatlink.html http://gened.emc.maricopa.edu/bio/bio181/BIOBK/BioBookGlyc.html http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/maderinquiry /crit6.html http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/maderinquiry/crit3.html

Where does life come from?

At least 3 theories:

Where does life come from?

At least 3 theories:

•Neo-Darwinian Evolution or Neo-Darwinian Evolution or “Macroevolution”“Macroevolution”

•Divine CreationDivine Creation

•Cosmic Inoculation:Cosmic Inoculation: PamspermiaPamspermia

It’s Difficult to Understand Life and

Death

• No first hand, personal experience or informationNo first hand, personal experience or information

• No cognitive remembrance of or asNo cognitive remembrance of or as

life started…life started…

• No cognitive experience: can’t remember No cognitive experience: can’t remember

pre- or non-existence… pre- or non-existence…

Characteristics of DeathCharacteristics of Death

• Absence of lifeAbsence of life• Absence of lifeAbsence of life

•Absence of the characteristics of lifeAbsence of the characteristics of life•Absence of the characteristics of lifeAbsence of the characteristics of life

• Total and permanent cessationTotal and permanent cessation

of all vital (living) functionof all vital (living) function

• Total and permanent cessationTotal and permanent cessation

of all vital (living) functionof all vital (living) function

Definition of LifeDefinition of Life

•The quality that distinguishes a vital and functional organism from

inanimate objects.

•The quality that distinguishes a vital and functional organism from

inanimate objects.

•A principle or force that underlies the distinctive quality of animate

beings.

•A principle or force that underlies the distinctive quality of animate

beings.• An embodied organismic state

characterized by the capacity for metabolism, growth, reaction to stimuli and reproduction.

Conditions for Life on Earth:The Anthropic Principle

Conditions for Life on Earth:The Anthropic Principle

• 1st Cause or Primary Mover

• 2nd Cause or Big Bang• 3rd Cause or Physics• 4th Cause or Chemistry• 5th Cause or Biology• 6th Cause or Ecology• 7th Cause or Environment

• 1st Cause or Primary Mover

• 2nd Cause or Big Bang• 3rd Cause or Physics• 4th Cause or Chemistry• 5th Cause or Biology• 6th Cause or Ecology• 7th Cause or Environment

Physical, Chemical and Biological Properties of Life

Physical, Chemical and Biological Properties of Life

• Dynamic = changing• Dynamic = changing

• Elements• Elements• Molecules • Molecules

• Compounds• Compounds

• Macromolecules• Macromolecules

• Enzymes• Enzymes• Electrical phenomena• Electrical phenomena

• Optical activity of enzymes• Optical activity of enzymes

Properties of LifeContinued:

Properties of LifeContinued:

• Composed of building blocks = cells• Composed of building blocks = cells

• Reproduction• Reproduction

• Adaptability• Adaptability

• Irritability• Irritability

• Growth• Growth• Metabolism• Metabolism

• Exhibit organization = tissue, organs• Exhibit organization = tissue, organs

• Uniformity of class• Uniformity of class

Reproduction

Passing on the biochemical instructions (genes) to the next generation

Reproduction

Passing on the biochemical instructions (genes) to the next generation

Adaptation

An inherited characteristic that enables an organism to survive

Adaptation

An inherited characteristic that enables an organism to survive

Irritability

An immediate response to stimulus = nervous system

Life’s CharacteristicsLife’s Characteristics

IndividualsIndividuals

Symbiotic organismsSymbiotic organisms

Life’s OrganizationLife’s OrganizationAtomsAtoms

MacromoleculesMacromolecules

TissuesTissues

OrgansOrgans

Organ SystemsOrgan Systems

OrganellesOrganelles

CellsCells

Amino AcidsAmino Acids

PopulationsPopulationsMunn Field Riot 1998Munn Field Riot 1998

MetabolismMetabolism

• Animal model

• Plant model

• Animal model

• Plant model

Animal MetabolismAnimal Metabolism

Steady

State

Steady

State

Growth and DevelopmentGrowth and Development

RespirationRespiration

H2O CycleH2O Cycle

Energy Energy

Detritus CyclesDetritus Cycles

OffspringOffspring

ReproductionReproduction

SynthesisSynthesis

MetabolismMetabolism

Nutrient CyclesNutrient Cycles

Self PerpetuationSelf Perpetuation

ChangeChange

Raw MaterialsRaw Materials

Plant MetabolismPlant Metabolism

MitochondrionMitochondrionChloroplastChloroplast

Cellular respirationCellular respirationEnergy richEnergy rich

O2O2

Energy poorEnergy poor

CO2 + H2OCO2 + H2O

SunlightSunlight

FusionFusion

4H 1 He + e

E = MC2

ATP

Biosynthesis

Active transport

ATP

Biosynthesis

Active transport

Movement

Bioluminescence

Electricity

Movement

Bioluminescence

Electricity

CarbohydrateCarbohydratePhotosynthesisPhotosynthesis

What is the simplest form of life?

What is the simplest form of life?

HIVHIV

• Virus = RNA or DNA wrapped in protein coat

(e.g. HIV, poliomyellitis)

• Virus = RNA or DNA wrapped in protein coat

(e.g. HIV, poliomyellitis)

• Phytoplasma and Mycoplasma = simplest cell, lack a cell wall, DNA for 200 functions (walking pneumonia, STD’s)

• Phytoplasma and Mycoplasma = simplest cell, lack a cell wall, DNA for 200 functions (walking pneumonia, STD’s)

Pneumonia mycoplasmaPneumonia mycoplasma

More simple lifeMore simple life

scapiesscapies

• Prions = 1/100 to 1/1000 the size of a virus, composed of proteins (Scapies, Multiple Sclerosis, Lou Gehrig’s disease)

• Prions = 1/100 to 1/1000 the size of a virus, composed of proteins (Scapies, Multiple Sclerosis, Lou Gehrig’s disease)

Cadang cadangCadang cadang

• Viroid = Tightly wound DNA or RNA (coconut cadang cadang, bunchy top)• Viroid = Tightly wound DNA or RNA (coconut cadang cadang, bunchy top)

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy: Prions in action

Transmission via contaminated sheep proteins fed to cattle in Great Britain

05000

10000150002000025000

300003500040000

Cases

1988

1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

2000

Year

BSE

Science is all about description.

How Biologists Measure Size: Metrics

Science is all about description.

How Biologists Measure Size: Metrics

Assignment: Learn the metric measuring system and life sizes

Lecture 2: What is life? What is life? SummarySummary

Lecture 2: What is life? What is life? SummarySummary

Now playing: Soft Cell

“Tainted Love”

OriginsOrigins

CharacteristicsCharacteristics

DefinitionsDefinitions

PropertiesProperties

OrganizationOrganization

EnergyEnergy

CommunicationCommunication

Simple forms of lifeSimple forms of life

How living organisms are described: e.g. measured, photographed,

weighed, dissected, chemically analyzed, etc.

How living organisms are described: e.g. measured, photographed,

weighed, dissected, chemically analyzed, etc.

Life is what happens when you’re busy making other

plans.

--John Lennon (1940-1980)

British singer/songwriter

Life is what happens when you’re busy making other

plans.

--John Lennon (1940-1980)

British singer/songwriter