Fundamentals of Biology: Building Blocks, Challenges,

and Evolution

http://community.webshots.com/photo/1098385609029448148TPhhYchttp://web.mit.edu/esgbio/www/lm/sugars/cellulose.GIF

Building Blocks of Life: Important Molecules

Water (H2O) Gases (O2, CO2) Nutrients

Nitrate (NO3-), nitrite (NO2

-),

ammonia (NH4+)

Phosphate (PO4-3)

Silica (SiO2) Iron (Fe), and other trace metals

Important Molecules

Carbohydrates (C, H, O) sugars, starches – energy cellulose, chitin - structure

Lipids (C, H, O, some P) fats, oils, waxes – energy, buoyancy,

insulation structural – cell membranes hormones – messengers

http://web.mit.edu/esgbio/www/lm/sugars/cellulose.GIF

Important Molecules

Proteins (C, H, O, N, some S) amino acids enzymes – metabolism hormones – messengers hemoglobin – oxygen transportation structural – hair, nails, feathers, skin,

muscle

http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/graphics/images/2008/04-08Hemoglobin.jpg http://www.rsc.org/images/FEATURE-NOBEL-350_tcm18-136787.jpg

http://www.3dchem.com/imagesofmolecules/aspartic-acid.jpg

Important Molecules

Nucleic acids (C, H, O, N, P) nucleotides – genetic

information DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)

– chromosomes, genes RNA (ribonucleic acid) –

translate to proteins ATP (adenosine

triphosphate) – store and transfer energy

http://www.ericharshbarger.org/lego/images/dna/helix_0.jpg

From Atoms to Ecosystems

From Atoms to Ecosystems

http://www.windows.ucar.edu/earth/Life/images/celltypes.gif

molecules → organelles → cell (organism)

molecules → cell (organism)

cells → tissues → organs → organ systems → organism

cells → tissues → organism

From Atoms to Ecosystems

http://community.webshots.com/photo/1098385609029448148TPhhYc

organism → population → community → ecosystem

Ecosystems and Adaptations

Adaptation: The adjustment or changes in

behavior, physiology, and structure of an organism to become more suited to an environment.

(http://www.biology-online.org/dictionary/Adaptation)

A characteristic of an organism that makes it fit for its environment or for its particular way of life.

(McGraw-Hill Concise Encyclopedia of Bioscience. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.)

Challenges of Life in the Ocean

Organisms deal with challenges that are unique to marine environment Must maintain suitable conditions inside their body, regardless of the external conditions

- Homeostasis

Challenges of Life in the Ocean- Temperature

Dictates where organisms live Affects how organisms metabolize Physiologically adapted to live within a certain temperature range

USFWS NOAA

Challenges of Life in the Ocean- Temperature

Challenges of Life in the Ocean- Temperature

Ectotherms “Cold-blooded”, metabolic heat lost Cannot regulate internal temperature, so same temperature as environment (poikilotherms) Most marine animals (invertebrates, most fish, most reptiles)

NOAAhttp://www.dnr.sc.gov/marine/sertc/gallery.htm

http://www.njscuba.net/images-uw/other/bay_anchovy.jpg

Challenges of Life in the Ocean- Temperature

Endotherms “Warm-blooded”, metabolic heat retained (fat, feathers for insulation) Can regulate internal temperature, regardless of external environment (homeotherms) Mammals, birds

Challenges of Life in the Ocean- Temperature

Endotherms Some large fish and turtles are endotherms, but not homeotherms Metabolic heat retained, so warmer than surroundings, but internal temperature is relative, not set

http://www.mbayaq.org/efc/living_species/organism_images/lsl_open_m163.jpg

http://getinvolved.conservation.org/images/content/pagebuilder/10733.jpg

Challenges of Life in the Ocean- Salinity

Diffusion – molecules move from high concentrations to low until equal Cell membranes are selectively permeable to different substances Osmosis – passive diffusion of water across membranes Active transport – expend energy to work against diffusion

Challenges of Life in the Ocean- Salinity

Osmoconformers – do not regulate

Challenges of Life in the Ocean- Salinity

Osmoregulators

Challenges of Life in the Ocean- Salinity

Osmoregulators

Hawksbill turtles have glands (near eyes) to excrete excess salt

Evolution

The gradual change in the genetic makeup of species and populations The diversity of organisms today is the result of billions of years of evolution

http://www.rci.rutgers.edu/~dmellor/Site/Blog/53672D17-7066-49D8-AC2B-B37F99DF76F7_files/Evolution-diagram_op_800x467.jpg

Evolution

Theory of evolution – not a hypothesis, but a widely accepted scientific concept Evidence exists from the past (fossils) Evolution observed within our lifetime (bacteria, plants, worms, insects)

http://www.phyletisches-museum.uni-jena.de/images/archaeopteryx_berlin_1864.jpg

Evolution

Adaptation and natural selection – individuals best adapted to their environment survive and produce offspring Changes and challenges – adapt or become extinct

http://www.globalchange.umich.edu/gctext/Inquiries/Inquiries%20in%20Global%20Change_files/image096.jpg

Phylogenetics

Reconstructs evolution by grouping organisms by their relatedness

Fossil record (incomplete) Body structure Reproduction and behavior Embryology and larval development Genetics (DNA, RNA)

Phylogenetics

http://nai.arc.nasa.gov/library/images/news_articles/big_274_3.jpg

using ribosomal RNA sequenceCarl Woese

Phylogenetics

Classification of Organisms

Kingdom

sub-, super-, infra-categories, too: - subclass Placentalia (placentals)- suborder Odontoceti (toothed whales)

Classification of Organisms

Classification of Organisms

Species – binomial nomenclature (Linnaeus) Genus species

Use instead of common names to avoid confusion: “Dolphin” Coryphaena hippurus – Mahi mahi fish

Tursiops truncatus – Flipper

http://www.fisheries.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/image/15886/fad-underwater-dolphinfish.jpg

http://www.coralreefnetwork.com/stender/marine/mammals/Bottlenose%20Dolphin.jpg

Classification of Organisms

Species – “populations of organisms that have common characteristics and can successfully breed with each other”

Acropora palmata Acropora cervicornis

http://www.floridamarine.org/images/gallery/

Classification of Organisms

One species or three?

Montastraea annularis Montastraea faveolata Montastraea franksi

http://www.uiowa.edu/~geology/people/faculty/budd/corals/panama.htmlhttp://www.sci.sdsu.edu/PHAGE/images/Montastraea%20franksi-closeup_JPG.jpg