Unit 1 Overview (BIO10304_25/FA)

Unit 1 Goals

  • Students will learn to appreciate what it means to be alive and the biological basis of life.
  • Students will learn about the importance of chemistry in life.
  • Students will understand how the formation and function of biological molecules depend on chemical bonding between their elements.
  • Students will understand how cells are organized to carry out the properties of life.

Learning Objectives

  • Upon completion of this unit, you will be able to describe how:
    • From Chapter 1.1-1.2
    • Living things have certain characteristics that make them different from nonliving things.
    • All living things are composed of cells that harness energy to synthesize unique chemical compounds. Living things grow and reproduce.
    • From Chapter 2.1-2.10
    • The natural world consists of matter and energy. The smallest functional unit of matter is an atom.
    • Chemical bonds link atoms together to form molecules. These bonds form naturally because molecules are more stable than the atoms that comprise them.
    • Water is the universal biological solvent. Water comprises most of the fluid within cells and surrounds all cells in multicellular organisms.
    • Living things harness energy and use it to make complex molecules not otherwise found in nature. These molecules include proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids.
    • Carbon is the common building block of all four classes of organic molecules because of the many ways it can form chemical bonds with other atoms.
    • From Chapter 3.1, 3.3-3.6
    • A single cell is the smallest unit of life. All living things are composed of one or more cells, and all cells are derived from preexisting cells.
    • All cells are surrounded by a plasma membrane.
    • The nucleus of a human cell contains the cell's DNA. The genetic code of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) specifies the amino acid sequences of the proteins produced by the cell.
    • A variety of membrane-enclosed organelles within the cell carry out cellular functions.
    • From Chapter 4.1-4.6, 4.7-4.8
    • In multicellular organisms, cells have specialized functions.
    • Groups of cells with a common function are called tissues. The four main tissue types are epithelial, connective, muscle, and nervous.
    • Organs and organ systems each perform one or more essential complex functions for the organism. Humans have 11 organ systems.
    • The skin is an organ on the integumentary system.
    • Multicellular organisms must maintain homeostasis (constancy) of their internal environments.
    • Homeostasis is maintained by negative feedback control systems. In negative feedback systems, any deviation from a stable condition is detected and corrected.
    • From Chapter 17.1-17.3
    • All cells in every living organism were formed by division of previously existing cells. The exception is a fertilized egg, produced from the union of two cells (sperm and egg).
    • Before a living cell divides into two, its genetic material must be copied completely and accurately.

From Chapter 1.1-1.2 (Key Concepts)

  • Living vs. nonliving: living things possess a set of characteristics that distinguish them from nonliving matter.
  • Cellular basis of life: all living things are composed of cells; cells harness energy to synthesize chemical compounds; organisms grow and reproduce.

From Chapter 2.1-2.10 (Matter, Energy, and Basic Chemistry of Life)

  • Matter and energy form the natural world.
  • The smallest functional unit of matter is an atom.
  • Chemical bonds link atoms to form molecules; bonds form because molecules are more stable than isolated atoms.
  • Water is the universal biological solvent: important for cellular fluids and the external environment of cells in multicellular organisms.
  • Biological macromolecules and energy capture: proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids are synthesized using energy harnessed by living organisms.
  • Carbon chemistry as a backbone: carbon’s versatile bonding enables the construction of complex organic molecules; carbon is the common building block for all four major classes of organic molecules.

From Chapter 3.1, 3.3-3.6 (Cell Structure and Function)

  • Cell theory: a single cell is the basic unit of life; all living things are composed of one or more cells; all cells arise from preexisting cells.
  • Plasma membrane: all cells are enclosed by a plasma membrane.
  • Genetic material: the nucleus contains DNA; the genetic code in DNA specifies amino acid sequences for protein synthesis.
  • Organelles: cells contain membrane-enclosed organelles that carry out diverse cellular functions.

From Chapter 4.1-4.6, 4.7-4.8 (Tissues, Organs, and Homeostasis)

  • Cellular specialization: in multicellular organisms, cells take on specialized roles.
  • Tissues: groups of cells with a common function; the four main tissue types are epithelial, connective, muscle, and nervous.
  • Organs and organ systems: organs and organ systems perform essential, complex functions; humans have 1111 organ systems.
  • Integumentary system: the skin is an organ within this system.
  • Homeostasis: multicellular organisms maintain stable internal conditions.
  • Negative feedback: the mechanism by which deviations from a stable state are detected and corrected to maintain homeostasis.

From Chapter 17.1-17.3 (Cell Division and Reproduction)

  • Cell division and lineage: All cells in living organisms arise by division of preexisting cells; fertilized eggs are the exception, formed by union of two gametes (sperm and egg).
  • DNA replication: before a cell divides, its genetic material must be copied completely and accurately to ensure genetic fidelity in daughter cells.