Evolution and Life on Earth

Lecture 2

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Topics Covered in this Module Life on Earth Evolution: The Core Theme in Biology Major Objectives of this Module Identify evolution as the core theme and unifying concept in biology. Distinguish between the biological and the common meanings of the word evolution. Explain how evolution has led to both the unity and the diversity of life forms.

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Life on Earth

A cuttlefish senses its surroundings through its wshaped pupil. The eye sends information to the brain, which quickly relays messages to particular pigment cells in the skin. The muscles pull on the pigment cells so they expand, and the cuttlefish instantly resembles what its eye sees. Evolution is behind the formation of these traits.

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Figure 2: Cells, the basic units of life. All cells have cell membranes, ribosomes, and DNA. The DNA is packaged differently in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells, but it has the same basic structure and function.

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DNA is a great unifier for all of life

Sources of Genetic Variation Mutations Gene Recombination Biological Evolution Process that results in heritable changes
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Figure 5: Biological classification. The classification system in use today relies on the hierarchical system developed by Linneaus, with the addition of several categories, including the domain - the most inclusive category. This schematic shows the classification of the polar bear (Ursus maritimus).

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Natural Selection

Natural Selection is the process whereby organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce offspring.
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Evolution explains the unity of life.

Figure 9: Homologies. The forelimbs of a variety of mammals use the same bones, slightly modified, for different purposes. The genes that code for the bones are also very similar. These similarities that arise from sharing a common ancestor are called homologies. The forelimbs in mammals are considered homologous structures. Homology is the phenomonon of homologies among different organisms.

It all comes down to DNA

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Three-Domain tree of Life

Comparing sequences of a conserved ribosomal gene in archaea with the same gene in other prokaryotes and eukaryotes, scientists found that archaea were so different from eukaryotes and even from other prokaryotes that they deserved an entirely new classification category.

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Evolutionary thinking applies to all levels of biological organization.

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Biological Information and Interactions

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Topics Covered in this Module Organisms Are Centers of Information Transfer Responding to Information Major Objectives of this Module Describe how living things inherit genetic information. Explain how cells receive, process, and respond to signals from their environment.

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What about animals/humans?

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Central Dogma of Molecular Biology

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 Information is stored Genes are the functional units of

information

Information is interpreted and transmitted Information goes from virtual to real

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Double strand DNA

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Storing and interpreting DNA instructions. One DNA molecule contains many genes. The DNA consists of two strands that are joined by base pairing between complementary nitrogenous bases. Each strand of DNA can therefore act as a template, or pattern, either for completing the other DNA strand or for producing mRNA, a mobile copy of the information in the base sequence. The mRNA then serves as the template for assembling a specific sequence of amino acids.

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General Transfer

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Special Transfer
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Responding to Information
Sense, transmit, process and answer back at all levels of biological organization: Chemical Reaction Cell Signaling

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Energy and Matter

Lecture 3

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Friday, March 15, 13

Topics Covered in this Module Matter and Energy in the Earth System Major Objectives of this Module Define energy and matter. Explain how energy and matter interact on multiple levels of biological organization from cells to organisms to ecosystems to the Earth system. Explain how organisms use energy and matter to form living structures and perform life processes.

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 What is Matter? What is Energy?

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Thermodynamics

First Law: Energy is not created or destroyed. It can be just transformed Second Law: Every transformation of Energy has a lost as Heat. This Heat increases the entropy of the universe
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Different Kind of Energy

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COUPLED REACTIONS

Figure 2-56 Molecular Biology of the Cell ( Garland Science 2008)

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Exergonic and Endergonic Reactions

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 Coupled Reactions Activated Carriers

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Figure 2-69 Molecular Biology of the Cell ( Garland Science 2008)

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ATP is the most used Act. Carrier

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ANOTHER ENERGETIC CARRIER

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ANOTHER ENERGETIC CARRIER

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