Living Environment Boot Camp Survival Guide Notes

Cells

  • Homeostasis: Maintaining a stable internal environment; failure leads to sickness or death.
  • Metabolism: Sum of all chemical reactions in an organism's cells.
  • Organic molecules: Carbon-based skeletons with hydrogen and oxygen.
    • Carbohydrates: Glucose (simple sugars); found in grains, fruits, vegetables.
    • Proteins: Amino acids; found in meat, eggs, beans.
    • Lipids: Fatty acids & glycerin; found in animal fats, nuts, oils.
    • Nucleic acids: Nucleotides; found in small amounts in all foods.
  • Organization: Cells → Tissues → Organs → Organ Systems → Organism.
  • Organelles:
    • Vacuoles: Store waste and water.
    • Ribosomes: Protein synthesis.
    • Mitochondria: Cellular respiration (glucose + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water + ATP).
    • Chloroplasts: Photosynthesis (sun + carbon dioxide + water → glucose + water + oxygen).
    • Nucleus: Contains DNA, the control center.
    • Cytoplasm: Liquid medium within the cell.
    • Cell Membrane: Controls transport in/out (selective permeability).
  • Cellular communication: Receptor molecules recognize and respond to chemical signals.
  • Passive transport: High to low concentration (no energy).
  • Active transport: Low to high concentration (uses ATP).
  • Human Body Systems:
    • Digestive: Breaks down food; parts include the mouth, esophagus, stomach, intestines, rectum; organelles with same function: Vacuole and Lysosome
    • Circulatory: Carries gases/nutrients; parts include the heart, arteries, veins, capillaries; organelles with same function: Cytoplasm, ER or Golgi
    • Respiratory: Gas exchange; parts include the lungs, alveoli, diaphragm; organelles with same function: Cell Membrane
    • Excretory: Waste removal; parts include the kidneys, bladder, urethra; ; organelles with same function: Cell Membrane or vacuole
    • Nervous: Fast control; parts include the brain, spinal cord, nerve cells; organelles with same function: Nucleus
    • Endocrine: Slow control; parts include the Pituitary, Thyroid, Adrenal, Pancreas, Gonads; organelles with same function: Nucleus

Life Functions and Homeostasis

  • Control: Hormones (endocrine glands) and nerve cell chemicals facilitate cell communication; receptor sites.
  • Respiration: Energy production using oxygen to burn sugar, yielding ATP; occurs in mitochondria.
  • Digestion: Breaking down large molecules.
    • Proteins → Amino acids.
    • Carbohydrates/starches → Simple sugars.
    • Fats (lipids) → Fatty acids & glycerol.
  • Transport: Movement of materials within cells and between multicellular parts.
  • Excretion: Waste removal.
  • Synthesis: Building large molecules from smaller ones.
  • Photosynthesis: Storing sun's energy in glucose bonds; occurs in chloroplasts; formula: Sun + CO2 + Water \rightarrow Glucose + O2 + Water
  • Cellular Respiration: Occurs in mitochondria of all organisms; formula: Glucose + O2 \rightarrow CO2 + Water + ATP
  • Enzymes: Catalysts affecting reaction rates; influenced by shape ("lock and key"), temperature, and pH.
  • Dynamic Equilibrium: Steady state; homeostasis.
  • Negative Feedback: Controls hormone levels (e.g., thermostat analogy).
    • Example: Insulin lowers high blood sugar; glucagon raises low blood sugar.
  • Skin and Circulation: Primary defense against pathogens; White blood cells for immunity.
  • Surface Receptor Protein: Molecule recognized by immune system; antigens on pathogens.
  • Antibodies: Proteins produced by white blood cells to fight diseases; specific shapes for specific antigens.
  • Immunity: Body's ability to fight disease; white blood cells remember antigens.
  • Vaccination: Weakened/dead virus triggers antibody production.
  • Diseases arise from pathogens (viruses, bacteria, fungi).

Reproduction

  • Cell Division: Mitosis (asexual) and meiosis (sexual).
  • Mitosis: One division (1→2); identical daughter cells; diploid (2n); for growth and repair.
  • Meiosis: Two divisions (1→4); sex cells with half chromosomes; haploid (1n); produces gametes.
  • Gonads: Sex glands (ovaries, testes).
  • Gametes: Sex cells unite in fertilization to form a zygote.
  • Zygote: Fertilized egg.
  • Fertilization: Male and female gamete unite.
  • Differentiation: Transforms cells into specialized types.
  • Female System: Vagina, uterus (baby develops), ovaries (egg/hormone production), placenta (nutrient/waste exchange), oviducts (fertilization).
  • Male System: Testis (sperm/hormone production).
  • Reproductive Technology:
    • Artificial insemination: Donor sperm.
    • Amniocentesis: Fetal cell DNA analysis.
    • Karyotype: Chromosome map to detect issues like Down syndrome.

Genetics

  • Cancer: Uncontrolled cell division due to genetic mutations, from heredity or environment.
  • Heredity: Passing genetic info from one generation to the next.
  • DNA: Organized in genes within the nucleus.
  • Asexual vs. Sexual Reproduction:
    • Asexual: Identical offspring, one parent, little variation.
    • Sexual: Not identical offspring, two parents, much variation.
  • Clones: Identical genetic copies.
  • DNA: Double helix of nucleotides with genetic code.
  • Nucleotide: Phosphate, sugar, and base (A, T, G, C).
    • A pairs with T, G pairs with C.
  • RNA: Single-stranded polymer (A, U, G, C).
    • mRNA, tRNA, rRNA.
  • Protein Synthesis: mRNA carries code to ribosome; tRNA brings amino acids; ribosome assembles protein.
  • Mutation: Alteration in DNA sequence.
    • Substitution, deletion, addition, inversion.
  • Gene Expression: Environment affects gene expression.
  • Genetic Engineering: Altering organism's genetic instructions.
  • Gene Splicing: Inserting DNA into another organism (e.g., insulin production in bacteria).
  • Restriction Enzyme: Cuts DNA at specific sites; used in gene splicing and gel electrophoresis.
  • Selective Breeding: Mating parents with favorable traits.
  • Species: Organisms sharing traits and capable of reproducing fertile offspring.

Evolution

  • Evolution: Change in organisms over time.
  • Natural Selection: Best-fit individuals survive.
  • Overproduction: More offspring than can survive.
  • Competition: Fight for limited resources.
  • Variation: Differences within a species.
  • Adaptive Value: Trait aiding survival/reproduction.
  • Extinction: Disappearance of a species due to inability to adapt.
  • Ancestry: Cladograms or family trees.

Ecology

  • Ecology: Study of organism interactions with living and nonliving things.
  • Biotic Factors: Living parts (plants, animals).
  • Abiotic Factors: Non-living parts (rocks, air, sunlight).
  • Niche: Species' role (job and diet).
  • Population: All organisms of one species in an area.
  • Community: All populations in an area.
  • Biosphere: All Earth's ecosystems.
  • Competition: Struggle for resources.
  • Limiting Factors: Things limiting population size (food, shelter).
  • Carrying Capacity: Maximum sustainable population size.
  • Predators: Kill and eat prey.
  • Feeding Relationships:
    • Autotrophs: Producers (make own food).
    • Heterotrophs: Consumers (eat other organisms).
    • Herbivores: Eat only plants.
    • Carnivores: Eat only animals.
    • Omnivores: Eat plants and animals.
    • Decomposers: Recycle nutrients.
    • Scavengers: Eat dead organisms.
    • Parasites: Live off hosts (harming them).
  • Food Chain: Linear feeding relationship; starts with producer, ends with decomposer; arrows show energy flow.
  • Food Web: Interlocking food chains.
  • Sun: Primary energy source.
  • Energy Pyramid: Energy decreases by 90% each level (lost as heat).
  • Self-Sustaining Ecosystem: Requires energy source, energy capture, and nutrient recycling.
  • Ecological Succession: Changes in communities over time; pioneer organisms → climax community.

Human Impact

  • Material Cycles: Carbon/oxygen, water, nitrogen.
  • Biodiversity: Species variation in an ecosystem; higher biodiversity = increased stability.
  • Human effects on biodiversity: Deforestation, monoculture, habitat destruction, killing organisms.
  • Renewable Resources: Replenish if managed (trees).
  • Nonrenewable Resources: Take long to replace (oil, coal).
  • Preservation: Reduce, reuse, recycle.
  • Pollution: Harmful chemical changes.
  • Human activities and diversity loss: Overharvesting, land use, habitat destruction, deforestation, invasive species.
  • Impact of technology/industrialization: Increased pollution, resource use.
  • Water pollution: Sewage, waste.
  • Toxic wastes: DDT.
  • Thermal pollution: Heat.
  • Overpopulation.
  • Air pollution: Burning fossil fuels.
    • Acid Rain: Low pH rain from sulfur/nitrogen compounds.
    • Global Warming: Increased temperature from greenhouse gases (CO2).
    • Ozone Depletion: Hole in ozone layer from fluorocarbons; UV exposure increases skin cancer.

Experimentation

  • Independent Variable (IV): What "I change".
  • Dependent Variable (DV): What changes because of IV; data collected.
  • Control Group: Normal conditions.
  • Experimental Group: Differs by ONE change (IV).
  • Data Organization:
    • IV on X-axis, DV on Y-axis.
  • Graph Labeling: Title, axis labels, scale, key/legend.
  • Validity: Repeat, increase trials, peer review.
  • Microscope Parts: Eyepiece, objective lens, fine/coarse knobs, stage, clips, diaphragm.
  • Total Magnification: Eyepiece x Objective.
  • Microscope Image: Mirror image and upside down.
  • Wet Mount Slide: Cells in water, lower coverslip at an angle.
  • Staining: Add stain to edge of coverslip; use paper towel to draw it under.
  • Laboratory Tests:
    • Paper Chromatography: Separates molecules by size/color.
    • Gel Electrophoresis: Separates DNA by size using electrical current.
    • Indicators: Show presence of substances via color change.
  • Dichotomous Keys: Classification tools.
  • Mandated Labs:
    • Making Connections: Exercise vs. pulse rate/muscle fatigue.
    • Relationships and Biodiversity: Comparing plant species using traits/DNA.
    • Beaks of Finches: Natural selection based on beak variation.
    • Diffusion Through a Membrane: Molecule movement through membrane; osmosis in onion cells.