Tonya Cuevaz
AC1605974
SC160.3.2 Basic Biology
Assignment 3: Cell Respiration, Photosynthesis, and Cell Reproduction
07/25/2017
For the first part of this essay I will explain the seven properties of life; the key
characteristics of all living organisms: Order, Regulation, Growth, Energy Processing, Response
to Environment, Reproduction and Evolution. All living thing exhibit complex but ordered
organization, atoms form molecules, molecules form cells, cells form tissue, tissue forms organs,
organs systems are formed by groups of organs (however many or few, large or small) that all
work together to form organisms. Organisms are able to regulate their internal environment
within appropriate limits if their external environment changes drastically. All living things grow
and develop, DNA directs the pattern of growth and development, producing an organism that is
characteristic of its species. Energy processing is when organisms take in energy and use it to
perform all of life’s activities. All organisms respond to environmental stimuli, a simple example
of this would be a leaf falling (stimuli) into a pond (environment) and fish (organisms) swim
away in the opposite direction. Essential to continuation of life, whether through asexual or
sexual reproduction organisms reproduce their own kind. Lastly, evolutionary change is a central
unifying phenomenon of all life. Organisms will evolve due to changes in environment and
interaction with other organisms.
The entirety of the above paragraph would be moot without the existence of Atoms.
Atoms, the smallest unit of matter that retains the properties of an element are so small millions
of them would fit across the diameter of the period at the end of this sentence. Mind blowing!
Atoms are made of a nucleus of positively charges protons, neutrally charged neutrons while
negatively charged electrons fly around the nucleus in a cloud at nearly the speed of light. The
number of protons in the nucleus is called the atomic number while the sum of protons and
neutrons is the atomic mass number. Atoms held together by chemical covalent bonds are what
makes molecules. There are four molecules referred to as “the molecules of life”. One is protein,
dubbed the real building blocks of life and are involved in muscle movement, storage of energy,
digestion, immune defense and more. Twenty different amino acids are the primary structure of
proteins, these acids can be arranged trillions of different ways to create unique proteins. Next of
the four molecules of life is Carbohydrates, an important source of energy and provide structural
support for cells (cell walls are made from carbohydrates) and help with communication between
them. A variable group of molecules that include fats, oils, waxes and some steroids are Lipids.
