Ch 1.3 - Functions of Human Life

Definitive Terms of Human Life?

Organization, metabolism, responsiveness, movement, development, & reproduction are the key functions essential for sustaining life.

What is Organization?

Organization refers to the structured arrangement of cells and systems that enables living organisms to function effectively. It is the foundational level of biological life, ensuring that small components work together to form complex systems.

Why are distinct internal compartments important for organization?

Compartments keep body cells separated from external environmental threats & keep cells moist & nourished. They also separate internal bodily fluids from microorganisms that grow on the body’s surface

What is Metabolism?

A function in organisms that allows them to consume energy & molecules in food → convert some of it into fuel for movement → sustain body functions → Builds and maintain body structures (sum of anabolism & catabolism)

What is Anabolism

Anabolism is a metabolic process that involves the building up of complex molecules from simpler ones, using energy to synthesize cellular structures and function, crucial for growth and repair.

What is Catabolism?

Catabolism is a metabolic process that breaks down complex molecules into simpler ones, releasing energy that can be used for various bodily functions and maintenance.

What is ATP?

Adenosine Triphosphate is a chemical compound that serves as the primary energy carrier in cells. It stores energy in its high-energy phosphate bonds and releases it when these bonds are broken, fueling various biological processes.

how is ATP used to store and release energy

The cell stores energy in the synthesis of ATP → then moves the ATP to the location where energy is needed to fuel cellular activity → ATP is then broken down and a controlled amount of energy is release which is used by the cell to preform a particular job

What is Responsiveness?

The ability of an organism to adjust to changes in its internal and external environment, allowing it to react appropriately to stimuli.

What is an an example of an adjustment to external environement?

Moving towards food & water, and away from perceived dangers

What is an example of adjustments to internal environments?

Body temperature increases can cause the response of sweating and/or the dilation of blood vessels in the skin in order to decrease body temp

What is the extent of movement?

Human motion not only includes the motion of joints, but also the motion of individual organs & even individual cells

What is Development ?

All of the changes the body goes through in life which includes the differentiation process, and the growth & repair processes

What is the Differentiation Process

The process by which unspecialized cells develop into specialized cells with distinct functions, to preform certain tasks in the body

What is growth

an increase in body size. Like all multicellular organisms - humans grow by increasing the number of existing cells, the amount of non-cellular material around the cells, and increasing cell size

What is Reproduction?

The formation of new organisms from parent organisms. - *Without reproduction, the line of organisms would end, because death comes to all living organisms