Name_______________________________________________ Biol 211 - Group Number________ ALE 1 - Page 1 of 11 Active Learning Exercise 1: Themes in the Study of Life Reference: Chapter 1 (Biology by Campbell/Reece, 8th ed.) Introduction The science of biology is enormous in scope—it spans unimaginable size scales, from the study of submicroscopic molecules to the global distribution of biological communities which contain an estimated 5 to 100 million different species of organisms. The field of biology encompasses life over incomprehensible stretches of time, from the present to nearly 4 billion years ago. With rapid information flow (via the Internet, books, magazines, scientific journals, etc.) and an explosion of discoveries in labs and field stations around the world each year, biology is in a continuous state of change making it impossible for any one individual to keep pace. Fortunately, there are several enduring themes that pervade the science of biology. This Active Learning Exercise, together with chapter 1 of your textbook, will introduce you to these unifying themes that you should keep in mind as you study biology in this course and in your future biological endeavors. Theme #1. New Properties Emerge at each level in the Biological Organization 1. Complete the diagram below of the levels of biological organization. Atoms Cells are ordered into in multicellular organisms organized into Complex organism Levels of Biological Organization Many organisms of a single species living in a particular area = ___________________________ Biosphere At the Organismal level Beyond the Individual Organism Community Interactions of diff. Communities with each other and their environment = ________________________________ The sum of all of the above found on earth Many of the above living in the same areaALE 1 - Biology 211 (Revised Fall 2009) ALE 1 - Page 2 of 11 2. ―The whole is greater than its parts‖ is a saying rings true when speaking of living things. As we move from the molecular level to the biosphere, novel emergent properties arise at each level that is not present at the preceding level. Emergent properties are created by new arrangements and interactions of parts as complexity increases. Provide two examples of properties that emerge for each of the following levels in the hierarchy of biological organization. Level of Organization Examples of properties that emerge a. Molecules  organelle a. Organelles  cell b. Cells  Tissues 3. Life is recognized by what living things do and defies a simple one-sentence definition. There are many key properties that emerge as a result of the arrangement and interactions between the molecules, organelles and the cells that makeup an organism and the interaction of organisms with their environment. List and briefly describe the seven major properties that living things have in common. i.) ii.) iii.) iv.) v.) vi.) vii.)ALE 1 - Biology 211 (Revised Fall 2009) ALE 1 - Page 3 of 11 Theme #2. Organisms interact with their environments, exchanging matter and energy. Every organism interacts with its environment, including other organisms as well as nonliving factors. Both organism and environment are affected by the interactions between them. The dynamics of an ecosystem include two major processes: the cycling of nutrients and the one-way flow of energy from sunlight to producers to consumers. In most ecosystems, producers are plants and other photosynthetic organisms that convert light energy to chemical energy. Consumers are organisms that feed on producers and other consumers. All the activities of life require organisms to perform work, and work requires a source of energy. The exchange of energy between an organism and its environment often involves the transformation of energy from one form to another. In all energy transformations, some energy is lost to the surroundings as heat. In contrast to chemical nutrients, which recycle within an ecosystem, energy flows through an ecosystem, usually entering as sunlight and exiting as heat. 4. Complete labels a –g in the diagram below. a. ________________________ Ecosystem e. _____________ g. ______ ___________________________ b. __________________ ___________________ ___________________ c. _____________ d. __________________________ __________________________ f. _____________ALE 1 - Biology 211 (Revised Fall 2009) ALE 1 - Page 4 of 11 Theme 3. Structure and function are correlated at all levels of biological organization. 5. ―Form fits function,” when applied to biology, is a guide to the anatomy of life at all its structural levels. Explain in your own words what is meant by ―form fits function.‖ Support your response with an original example that stems from your personal experience. Theme #4. Cells are an organism’s basic units of structure and function 6. What is the lowest level of organization that can perform all the activities required for life? 7. There are three basic structures found in all cells. Name these three structures and briefly describe their major function. Hint: Trouble with the 3rd structure? See your response to #9! Structure Function a. b. c. 8. Distinguish between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, giving suitable examples of each. If necessary, see Chapter 6 and/or page 13 of the textbook for examples of pro- and eukaryotic cells.ALE 1 - Biology 211 (Revised Fall 2009) ALE 1 - Page 5 of 11 9. Below are electron micrographs of a prokaryotic and a eukaryotic cell. Identify each cell type and then complete the labels for each cell. Theme #5. The continuity of life is based on heritable information in the form of DNA. 10. Select from the following list of terms to complete the narrative below. Terms may be used once, more than once or not at all. Amino acid(s) Carbohydrate(s) Chromatin Chromosome(s) Cytoplasm Divide DNA Double helix Enzyme(s) Eukaryotic Function Gene(s) Genome Lipid(s) Nucleic Acid(s) Nucleotide(s) Nucleus Prokaryotic Protein(s) Replication RNA Transcription Translation At some point, all cells contain (a) ________________, the heritable material that directs the cell’s activities. DNA is the substance of (b) ________________, the units of inheritance that transmit information from parents to offspring. DNA in eukaryotic cells is organized into (c) ________________ which have