Biology for Human Movement & Nutritional Sciences - Module 1 Notes

Module Overview

• Lecture 1: Life and cells
  • All life is fundamentally the same.
  • Differences exist among various forms of life.
• Lecture 2: A tour of eukaryotic cells
• Lecture 3: A tour of prokaryotic cells
• Lecture 4: Water, concentrations, acids and bases
• Lecture 5: Carbon and macromolecules
• Lecture 6: The cell membrane – structure and function
• Intro workshop

A Note About Pre- and Post- Work

• FAQs:
  1. Homework Checked? No
  2. Memorizing Text Chapters? No
  3. Textbook Questions? Do if time allows, but not mandatory.
  4. Assessment of Non-Lecture Material? Only if specified.
  5. Purpose of Pre/Post Work? Preparatory for class, focus study on key concepts, revision tool.
  6. Class Discussion of Pre/Post Work? Not always in detail.
  7. Clarifications on Pre/Post Work? Questions welcomed, ideal for discussion board.

Key Concepts from Chapter 1 of the Text

1. The Study of Life Reveals Common Themes: Living organisms share common activities.
2. Evolution Explains Unity and Diversity of Life: Classification based on cellular structure and organization.
3. Cell Types: Prokaryotic vs. Eukaryotic; vary in structure and function.

Characteristics of Living Things

• Living things can be identified by their actions and characteristics:
  • Order: Organized structure.
  • Adaptation: Responding to the environment.
  • Response to Environment: Reacting to stimuli.
  • Regulation: Maintaining internal balance.
  • Growth and Development: Changes throughout life.
  • Reproduction: Creating offspring for survival.

Biological Hierarchy

1. The Biosphere: All life and environments on Earth.
2. Ecosystems: Interactions between biotic and abiotic components.
3. Communities: Groups of interacting populations.
4. Populations: Individuals of a species living in a certain area.
5. Organisms: Individual living entities.

The Building Blocks of Life - Cells

• All Living Things Made of Cells: Cellular organization is fundamental.
• The Importance of DNA:
  • DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid): Hereditary information in cells.
  • Function: Encodes genes that produce proteins, directing appearance and behavior.

Central Dogma of Molecular Biology

• Information flow: DNA → RNA → Protein.
  • Transcription: mRNA synthesis from DNA.
  • Translation: mRNA used to create proteins.
• Proposed by Francis Crick in 1956.

Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells

• Differences:
  • Prokaryotic: Small, no nucleus, no organelles.
  • Eukaryotic: Larger, contains a nucleus and organelles.
• Terms Origin:
  • Prokaryote: "Before kernel" (no nucleus).
  • Eukaryote: "True kernel" (with nucleus).

Basic Functions of Cells

• Protection and Organization: Cell membranes are crucial for enclosing contents.
• Energy Utilization:
  • Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP): Main energy carrier in cells.
  • Energy is stored and transferred by converting nutrients to ATP.

Common Characteristics of Cells

• Cell Membreanes: Composed of lipid bilayers, semi-permeable.
• Energy Flow: Respiration and photosynthesis are essential processes for energy flow.

Size Comparison of Cells

• Comparative sizes of organisms and cells in micrometres (µm):
  • Bacteria: ~1 µm
  • Animal and plant cells: 10-100 µm
• Microscopy Techniques: Different techniques provide insights into cellular structures and sizes.

Conclusion on Cellular Origins

• All cells are believed to originate from a common ancestor, approximately 2.8 billion years ago.
• Understanding the basic unit of life—a cell—is essential for comprehending life itself.