Characteristics of Life and Viruses
Homeostasis is...
the regulation of a stable internal environment
BALANCE
The building blocks of Carbs are...
Monosaccharides (which are simple __________)
What are the building blocks of Lipid molecules?
hydrocarbon chains (fatty acids and glycerols)
What are the four biomolecules necessary for life?
proteins
lipids
carbohydrates
nucleic acids
All cells are made up of the four biomolecules that we have reviewed in class.
What biomolecules help make up the CELL MEMBRANE?
LIPIDS
Viruses are often considered non-living because they only contain two of the four biomolecules considered to be necessary to facilitate all life.
What are these two biomolecules?
genetic material (DNA & RNA)
protein (often in the form of a protein coat)
The building blocks of Nucleic Acids are...
Nucleotides
What are the building blocks of Proteins?
Amino Acids
The main function of lipid molecules in our cells that enable our cells to maintain their shape in our watery internal environment is...
that they are a main component of the cell membrane.
All cells are made up of the four biomolecules that we have reviewed in class.
What biomolecules help make up the genetic material?
DNA & RNA
Which of the following is a LIFE LIKE characteristic of viruses?
- They are made of cells.
- They have lipid molecules.
- They have genetic material.
- They can maintain homeostasis.
They have genetic material (DNA & RNA).
When we talk about characteristics of living things, we often hear the word metabolism.
What does metabolism mean?
All the chemical reactions happening in an organism.
Nucleic acids are essential molecules because they...
Store our genetic information.
They are the blueprint of our cells and hold instructions that the cell needs in order to create proteins, replicate, and dictate the transport of materials in the cell.
Name the FOUR primary functions of proteins:
- Protect
- Transport
- Provide structure
- speed up chemical reactions
The main function of Carbohydrates is to be...
the primary fuel source of cells.
Carbs are essentially _________ __________.
Which of the following is an example of a NON-LIVING characteristic of viruses?
- They require a host cell to reproduce.
- They reproduce.
- They are able to metabolize.
- They evolve and mutate.
The require a host cell to reproduce.
Name FIVE Characteristics of living things that we talked about in class:
Grow
Require nourishment
Make waste
Use Energy
Made of Cells
One of the primary functions of proteins is to provide protection to the body and serve our immune system acting as flaggers/signals that attach foreign invaders like viruses and/or bacteria and mark them for destruction.
What are these types of proteins called?
Antibodies
One of the primary functions of proteins is to functions as Enzymes. What do Enzymes do in the body?
Enzymes are biological catalysts that help speed up chemical reactions happening in the cell
Bonus: Name an enzyme that we have talked about in class.
Besides being a major component of the cell membrane, name three other primary functions of lipid molecules:
- thermal insulation
- long-term energy storage
- cushioning of internal organs
Why must we treat viral and bacterial infections differently?
Bacteria are alive and they can be killed.
Viruses can be destroyed and dismantled by the immune system, but because they don’t have a membrane made of lipid molecules.
Thus they are treated differently.
Take a look at the following characteristics of living things:
- Grow
- Require nourishment
- Make waste
- Use Energy
- Made of Cells
Name the REST of the characteristics: :)
- Have DNA & RNA (genetic material)
- Respond to external stimulii
- Exchange gasses
- Reproduce
- Adapt/Evolve
- Need water
- Maintain internal balance (which is called _____)
- Die
One of the primary functions of proteins is to provide protection to the body and serve our immune system, acting as flaggers/signals that attach foreign invaders like viruses and/or bacteria and mark them for destruction.
Where do the instructions for these types of proteins exist? (i.e. in what molecule do we find instructions for all life functions happening in the cell)
Our DNA!!
(Genetic material of cell-- the instruction molecule!)
One of the primary functions of proteins is to functions as Structural proteins.
What is one example of a structural protein that we have talked about in class?
Keratin
Bonus: What does keratin make up in our bodies?
One of the primary functions of proteins is to functions as Transport proteins.
What is one example of a transport protein that we have talked about in class?
Hemoglobin
Bonus: What does Hemoglobin do in our bodies?