DNA, Proteins, & Specialization
This molecule contains the instructions that determine the specific sequence of amino acids in a protein.
What is DNA?
Arrange these levels of biological organization from smallest to largest: Organs, Cells, Organism, Organelles, Tissues, Organ Systems.
Organelles - Cells - Tissues - Organs - Organ Systems - Organism
This process of cell division allows a multicellular organism to grow in size and repair damaged tissues by creating genetically identical cells.
Mitosis
What are the three elements that are found in ALL macromolecules?
Carbon
Hydrogen
Oxygen
In a scientific explanation, this is the statement that answers the original question or problem.
Claim
While all cells in your body (mostly) have the same DNA, they look and act differently because they only use specific segments of that DNA. This results in these types of cells.
What are Specialized Cells?
This term describes the stable internal environment that organisms must maintain to survive, even when external conditions change.
Homeostasis
In a developing embryo, this process allows "blank slate" stem cells to become specific types of cells, like muscle or nerve cells.
To turn a sugar molecule into an amino acid, an organism must combine C, H, and O with this fourth essential element.
Nitrogen
These are the facts, measurements, or observations collected during an investigation to support a claim.
Evidence
If a protein's structure is changed (due to a DNA mutation), this is the most likely result for the protein’s ability to do its job.
What is the protein will likely lose its function (or function differently)?
This type of feedback mechanism works to minimize change, bringing a system back to its "set point" (e.g., sweating to cool down).
Negative Feedback Mechanism
True or False: Mitosis is only used for reproduction in complex multicellular organisms.
FALSE
It is primarily for growth and maintenance; meiosis is for reproduction.
Where do the carbon atoms in a protein found in a human's muscle ultimately come from?
From the food (sugar/organic molecules) humans ate.
GLUCOSE
This part of an explanation connects the evidence to the claim by using scientific principles (the "Why").
Reasoning
These are the primary molecules within the cell, carrying out essential functions like catalyzing reactions, providing structure, and transporting molecules.
What are proteins?
Provide an example of how the Respiratory System and the Circulatory System interact to provide a specific function for the body.
The respiratory system takes in oxygen, which the circulatory system then transports to cells for energy production.
Explain why a complex organism like a human cannot be made of just one type of cell.
Different functions (digestion, movement, thought) require specialized structures that one cell type cannot perform all at once.
What factors affect the function of an enzyme? List all 3.
Temperature, pH, and concentration of enzymes and substrates
DAILY DOUBLE
A student claims that "Enzyme B is the primary protein responsible for maintaining human metabolism during a high fever." Using the data table above, evaluate whether the evidence supports or refutes this claim. Provide your reasoning based on what you know about protein structure and function.
State the Central Dogma and explain why it is important.
DNA --> RNA --> Amino Acids --> Proteins
Proteins are essential in functioning of organisms
- play crucial roles in growth, repair, metabolism, and immune function
You are conducting an investigation on heart rate. If a student exercises, their heart rate increases to deliver more oxygen. Once they stop, the heart rate slows down. What evidence does this provide regarding homeostasis?
It provides evidence of a feedback mechanism that adjusts physiological activity to maintain stable oxygen levels in the blood.
If a scientist observes a group of cells dividing rapidly but failing to differentiate, what might happen to the organization of that tissue?
The tissue would likely form a mass or tumor and would be unable to perform its specialized function.
DAILY DOUBLE
A mutation occurs in the DNA sequence that codes for the insulin receptor protein on the surface of liver cells. This mutation causes the protein to fold into a different 3D shape. Explain how this change at the molecular level (DNA/Protein) results in a failure of a feedback mechanism at the organism level.
If a student claims that "All cells in the human body are the same because they have the same DNA," provide one piece of counter-evidence to disprove that claim.
Same DNA, different genes switched on or off - different structures and functions