Blog-1 CELL

The cell is a unit of biological activity delimited by a semi permeable membrane & capable of self reproduction in a suitable non living medium. The body of all living organisms (bacteria, blue green algae, plant, and animals) except viruses has cellular organization & may contain one or many cells. The organisms with only one cell in their body are called acellular organism (eg. Bacteria, blue green algae, protozoan etc.)The organisms having many cells in their body are called multicellular organisms. (eg.most plants & animals).An organism may contain only one type of cell (prokaryotic cell or eukaryotic cells) It was Robert Hooke who first of all in 1665 observed under a microscope certain honey comb like structures in cork and he applied the term cell (L. cella, small room) for the same. The prokaryotic (Gr. Pro primitive, karyon-nucleus) cells are the most primitive cells from morphological point of view. They occur in bacteria and blue green algae.Prokryotes is small, single celles organisms, usually less than a micrometer(1000 um=1 millimeter).They do not have a distinct nucleus and are devoid of many membranous structures found in the more complex cell types. The hereditary information is contained in a single circular structure that lacks many of the molecular components of the eukaryotic hereditary structure called the chromosome. Eukaryotic cells may be acellular organisms, such as protozoans and cellular algae, or they may be cells that make up the tissues and organs of multicellular organisms. Though the eukaryotic cells have different shape, size and physiology but all the cells are typically composed of plasma membrane, cytoplasm and its organelles, viz., mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, ribosomes, Golgi complex etc together with a true nucleus.

Blog-2 OSMOSIS Osmosis is special type of diffusion which involves the movement of water or other solvent molecules through a semi permeable or differentially permeable membrane from an area of high potential (pure solvent) to an area of low potential (more concentrated solution). The entry of water into the cell from its medium is called endosmosis; the reverse process in which water leaves the call is called exosmosis. An osmotic pressure is maintained by the salts present in cytoplasm. The cells always remain in a liquid or fluid medium for physiological exchange of gases, nutrients etc. this fluid is usually designated by extra cellular fluid (ECF). In protozoans and other lower organisms it is water. Depending upon the concentration, ECF may be:(1) Isotonic Solution: If the concentration of ECF in which the cell is present is similar to that of intracellular fluid of the cell, it is known as isotonic solution. The shape of cell remains normal. (2) Hypotonic Solution:-if the concentration of ECF is less concentrated than the intracellular fluid, it is known as isotonic solution. In such the cell swells up due to water reaching the cell by endosmosis. (3) Hypertonic Solution: If the concentration of ECF is higher yhan the intracellular fluid of cell, the solution is called hypertonic solution. In such a case water diffuses out of the cell by exosmosis. As a result the cell undergoes plasmolysis.

Blog-3 Evolution Evolution means change and it does not apply exclusively to biological evolution. The forms of all organisms, at all levels from DNA sequence to macroscopic morphology and social behavior, can be modified from those of their ancestors during evolution. Each and every change is not evolution developmental change within the life of an organism is not evolution in the strict sense and the technical definition of evolution refers to Change between generations in order to exclude developmental change. A change in composition of an ecosystem, which is made up of a number of species, would also not normally be regarded as evolution. The universe and our solar system have developed out of the explosion of matter that began our known universe. Chemical elements have evolved from simpler matter. Life has evolved from non life, and political system all evolve. Hence the word evolution for a course on global change. Charles Darwin and Alfred Wallace were the first to formulate a scientific argument for the theory of evolution by means of natural selection. Evolution by natural selection is a process that is inferred from three facts about populations: 1) More offspring are produced than can possibly survive, 2) Traits vary among individuals, leading to different rates of survival and reproduction, and 3) Trait differences are heritable. Thus, when members of a population die they are replaced by the progeny of parents that were better adapted to survive and reproduce in the environment in which natural selection took place. This process creates and preserves traits that are seemingly fitted for the functional roles they perform. Natural selection is the only known cause of adaptation, but not the only known cause of evolution. Other, no adaptive causes of evolution include mutation and genetic drift.