Living systems: most complex chemical systems on Earth * Constrained by properties of chemistry and physics * Science is becoming more interdisciplinary (combining multiple fields) 7 characteristics of all living organisms 1. Composed of cells 2. Complex and ordered 3. Respond to their environment 4. Can grow‚ develop‚ and reproduce 5. Obtain and use energy 6. Maintain internal balance 7. Allow for evolutionary adaptation Living systems show hierarchical organization
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aquaporins in cell membranes from an area of high water concentration (low solute concentration) to an area of low water concentration (high solute concentration). This process is called osmosis. It requires no cellular energy to be used‚ and occurs due to the random‚ continuous motion of all molecules. If a cell is placed in an environment in which the concentration of water is less than in the cell (hypertonic)‚ water will flow from the cytoplasm and/or water vacuole through the membrane into the
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The Biological Importance of Lipids Lipids are organic compounds found in all types of plant and animal cells. They always contain carbon‚ hydrogen and oxygen‚ however the relative amount of oxygen is less than the amount of carbohydrates in lipids. Lipids are polymers and the long chains of repeating units are joined together in a condensation reaction where water is also produced. The most common types of lipids are triglycerides‚ phospholipids and waxes. Triglycerides are formed by three fatty
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Cellular Membrane Abstract: Cell membranes play an important role in regulating what goes in and out of the cell. Diffusion‚ the process of movement of substances across the cell membrane from higher concentrations to areas of lower concentration‚ plays an active role in the transport and the regulation through cellular membrane. Sometimes‚ there are cases when cells are placed in hypotonic solutions and substances will diffuse through the cell membrane too much and will result the cell to hemolysis
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ONION EPIDERMIS INTRODUCTION An eukaryote is an organism whose cells contain a nucleus and other structures (organelles) enclosed within membranes. Plant cells are eukaryotic cells that differ in several key aspects from the cells of other eukaryotic organisms. Their distinctive features include: A large central vacuole a water-filled volume enclosed by a membrane known as the tonoplast which maintains the cell’s turgor (provide structural support) and controls movement of molecules between the cytosol
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advice that its outer skin is not to be removed to avoid getting red dye in the cooking water. If we look at the internal structure of beetroot‚ it will be observed that it consists of cells which are surrounded by a cell membrane. This cell membrane structure separates the contents of the cell from outside. The membrane has tiny holes in it which allows small molecules to pass
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Osmosis Osmosis is just a special case of diffusion - where water diffuses through a membrane which has different concentrations on either side. Permeable means "allows anything to pass through". Membranes in cells allow small molecules (water) to pass through‚ but prevent bigger ones from passing. This is called "selectively permeable". Take a look at the following animation; If a selectively permeable membrane separates the two solutions‚ water moves through it in both directions at the same
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the cells of organisms spontaneously diffuses out of the cytoplasm in order to restore osmotic balance. This leaves cells dehydrated and thus‚ eventually causes cell death. In order to ameliorate this predicament‚ halophiles use one of two unique strategies that function to increase the osmolarity of the cell‚ both of which as illustrated in figure 4. One strategy employs the accumulation from the environment or synthesis of organic compounds called compatible solutes in the cytoplasm of cells. These
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on membranes of environmental stress Background It is not possible to observe membranes directly‚ so this investigation is an indirect study of the effects of different substances and treatments on living beetroot cells. Beetroot cells have been chosen for this activity because each beetroot cell has a large central vacuole bounded by a membrane (Figure 1). Contained in the vacuole is the red pigment anthocyanin‚ which gives the beetroot its typical colour. The whole beetroot cell is also
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to be exchanged across a cell membrane? Water‚ nutrients‚ waste‚ gasses (O2/CO2)‚ amino acids (to build proteins)‚ sugars (carbos)‚ lipids‚ nucleic acids. 2.) In what way is an organism a protected compartment? Organisms have many layers of cells and material (such as skin) that protect them from the environment. The also arare selectively permeable in determining what they eat. 3.) What is the significance of a membranes being selectively permeable? It allows the cells to control its internal
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