Diversity of Life

Identify and explain the environmental (abiotic) conditions required to support all living systems

All living systems require a source of carbon and energy. Carbon is needed to build organic molecules and can come from organic compounds or inorganic sources like carbon dioxide. Energy is needed for life processes and can come from light, organic compounds, or inorganic compounds

Distinguish between autotrophic and heterotrophic modes of nutrition used by living organisms

Autotrophs obtain carbon from inorganic sources like carbon dioxide, while heterotrophs obtain carbon from organic compounds. Photoautotrophs get energy from light, chemautotrophs get energy from inorganic chemicals, and chemoterotrophs get energy from organic compounds

Explain the success of prokaryotes in terms of both their distribution and abundance

Prokaryotes are very distributed because their diverse nutritional modes allow them to live in many different environments, including extreme habitats. They are also very abundant because they reproduce quickly.

Compare and contrast organisms belonging to domain bacteria and archaea

Bacteria and archaea are both prokaryotes with a cell membrane, ribosomes, cell walls, and circular DNA in a nucleoid region. But, bacteria cell walls contain peptidoglycan, while archaeal cell walls vary in composition. Archaea also have DNA wrapped around proteins and use more complex DNA copying processes than bacteria

Describe and compare the characteristics and ecological roles of prokaryotes and their use in biotechnology

Prokaryotes are simple, unicellular organisms with many important ecological roles. They act as decomposers, photosynthetic organisms, and nitrogen fixers, and may form beneficial or harmful relationships with other organisms. In biotechnology, bacteria are used to make products such as tougher and biodegradable plastics and can also be used in biomediation to clean polluted environments.

Describe and compare the characteristics and ecological roles of animal-like protists

Animal-like protists are unicellular eukaryotes that are chemogeterotrophs. They obtain food by ingesting and internally digesting other organisms, and they do not have cell walls. Many act as motile predators, while some are parasites that can cause disease like malaria.

Describe and compare the characteristics and ecological roles of plant-like protists

Plant-like protists are eukaryotic photoautotrophs that make food by photosynthesis. Most are unicellular, although some are colonial, or multicellular, and they have cellulose cell walls. Their main ecological role is forming the base of the food chain in most aquatic ecosystems

Describe and compare the characteristics and ecological roles of Fungus-like protists

Fungus-like protists are eukaryotic chemoheterotrophs that digest food outside the cell and then absorb the nutrients. They can be unicellular or colonial, have chitin cell walls, and may act as decomposers, predators, and parasites.

Describe the distinguishing characteristics of fungi

Fungi are eukaryotic chemoheterotrophs that digest food externally and absorb the nutrients. Most are multicellular, expect years, and they have chitin cell walls. Multicellular fungi are made of hyphae, and fungi reproduce and disperse using spores

Briefly describe some ecological roles of fungi and their use in biotechnology

Fungi can act as decomposers, parasites, and mutualities partners with other organisms. In biotechnology, fungi are used to make foods and medicines and can also be used in biomediation to break down pollutants.

Compare and contrast the structural and functional characteristics for the three major groups: prokaryotes, protists, and fungi.

Prokaryotes are unicellular organisms without a nucleus or membrane-bound organelles and can use many nutritional modes. Protists are eukaryotes that may be unicellular, colonial, or multicellular and can be autotrophic or heterotrophic. Fungi are eukaryotic, mostly multicellular chemoheterotrophs with chitin cell walls that digest food externally and absorb nutrients.