Sci 230 Levels of Life

Associate Program Material

Levels of Life Worksheet

Complete all three parts of this worksheet.

Part I: Atomic Structure – Fill in the missing information on atomic structure and organic compounds.

|Atomic Structure |
|Subatomic Particle |Charge |Location in an Atom |
|Proton |Positive |Nucleus |
|Neutron |Neutral |Nucleus |
|Electron |Negative |Electron Cloud |

|Organic Compounds |
|Large Biological Molecule |Atoms it Contains |Monomer(s) |Function(s) in Living Organisms |
|Carbohydrates |C, H, and O |Monosaccharides |Source of energy |
|Lipid |C, H, and O |Glycerol and fatty acids |Cushion and insulate organs; builds cell |
| | | |membranes |
|Protein |C, H, O, N, and S |Amino acid |Helps chemical reactions, provides support |
| | | |and structure, provides transport within |
| | | |bodies and provides movement of body |
|Nucleic Acid |C, H, O, N, and P |Nucleotides |Stores and transmits genetic information |

Part II: Characteristics of Living Organisms – Seven characteristics distinguish an object or thing from an actual living organism. All seven characteristics must be present simultaneously for something to be considered living. Fill in the remaining characteristics in the following table.

|Characteristics of a Living Organism |
|1. Order – exhibit complex but ordered organization. |
|2. Regulation – the environment outside an organism my change drastically, but the organism can adjust its internal |
|environment, keeping within appropriate limits. |
|3. Growth and Development – information carried by genes controls the pattern of growth and development in all organisms. |
|4. Energy Utilization – organisms take in energy and use it to perform all of life’s activities. |
|5. Response of the Environment – all organisms respond to environmental stimuli. |
|6. Reproduction – organisms reproduce their own kind |
|7. Evolution – reproduction underlies the capacity of population to change (evolve) over time |

Part III: Write a 200- to 300-word explanation of how atoms make up organic compounds, which make up all living organisms, addressing all three domains.

All cells are mostly made up of water while the rest of it consists mainly of carbon-based molecules. Carbon is unparalleled in its ability to form the skeletons of large, complex, diverse molecules that are a nccesity for life’s functions. Carbon-based molecules, which are known as organic compounds, lie at the heart of any study of life. Carbon atoms are very versatile as a molecular ingredint. An atom’s bonding ability is related to the number of electrons it must share to complete its outer shell. Carbon atoms have four electrons in an outer shell that holds 8, carbon completes their outer shell by sharing their electrons with other atoms in four covalent bonds. Each carbon atom therefor acts as an intersection from which an organic compound can branch off in up to four directions. Carbon atoms can use one or more of its bonds to attach to other carbon atoms, this is why it is possible to construct an endless diversity of carbon skeletons varying is size and branching pattern. There are three macromolecules that are building block for organic compounds; carbohydrates, protiens, and nucleis acids.