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Questions and Answers
Which characteristic of living organisms involves the regulation of internal chemical balance?
Which characteristic of living organisms involves the regulation of internal chemical balance?
- Reproduction
- Homeostasis (correct)
- Organization
- Evolution
What is the significance of Pelagibacter ubique in the ocean ecosystem?
What is the significance of Pelagibacter ubique in the ocean ecosystem?
- It is the only known aquatic plant.
- Its combined weight is greater than that of all fish. (correct)
- It primarily grows underground.
- It is the largest free-living organism.
Which of the following options represents an example of an organism that is likely very old and has a vast underground network?
Which of the following options represents an example of an organism that is likely very old and has a vast underground network?
- Armillaria solidipes (correct)
- Pelagibacter ubique
- Blue whale
- Posidonia australis
Which organism is known for its extensive spread, spanning approximately 180 km²?
Which organism is known for its extensive spread, spanning approximately 180 km²?
How do living organisms primarily generate variation according to the content?
How do living organisms primarily generate variation according to the content?
What does the unity of organization refer to in the context of living organisms?
What does the unity of organization refer to in the context of living organisms?
What is the primary characteristic that allows organisms to make copies that resemble them?
What is the primary characteristic that allows organisms to make copies that resemble them?
Which factor does NOT contribute to the diversity of life on Earth as mentioned?
Which factor does NOT contribute to the diversity of life on Earth as mentioned?
What characteristics did LUCA possess?
What characteristics did LUCA possess?
When did LUCA likely exist?
When did LUCA likely exist?
What type of environments can prokaryotes survive in?
What type of environments can prokaryotes survive in?
What is the primary genetic material found in all living organisms?
What is the primary genetic material found in all living organisms?
What is the genome size of LUCA estimated to be?
What is the genome size of LUCA estimated to be?
Which of the following best describes prokaryotic diversity?
Which of the following best describes prokaryotic diversity?
What functions as the energy currency in all living cells?
What functions as the energy currency in all living cells?
What process allows living organisms to transcribe genetic information into functional products?
What process allows living organisms to transcribe genetic information into functional products?
Where is it theorized that life on Earth may have originated?
Where is it theorized that life on Earth may have originated?
Which of these statements about the genetic code is true?
Which of these statements about the genetic code is true?
What role can RNA molecules play in biological processes?
What role can RNA molecules play in biological processes?
How old is the Earth approximately?
How old is the Earth approximately?
What do we call the earliest signs of life on Earth, based on fossil evidence?
What do we call the earliest signs of life on Earth, based on fossil evidence?
What energy source do prokaryotes use for their metabolism?
What energy source do prokaryotes use for their metabolism?
Which of the following prokaryotes specializes in chemoautotrophy?
Which of the following prokaryotes specializes in chemoautotrophy?
Which component do cyanobacteria use to convert sunlight into chemical energy?
Which component do cyanobacteria use to convert sunlight into chemical energy?
What significant role did cyanobacteria play in Earth's history?
What significant role did cyanobacteria play in Earth's history?
Besides cyanobacteria, which group is mentioned as an example of a photoautotroph?
Besides cyanobacteria, which group is mentioned as an example of a photoautotroph?
What was primarily responsible for most of the carbon fixation throughout Earth's history?
What was primarily responsible for most of the carbon fixation throughout Earth's history?
What process allows the conversion of inorganic carbon (CO2) to organic forms?
What process allows the conversion of inorganic carbon (CO2) to organic forms?
Which of the following statements about cyanobacteria is false?
Which of the following statements about cyanobacteria is false?
Which type of archaea prefers highly acidic environments with a pH of 2-3?
Which type of archaea prefers highly acidic environments with a pH of 2-3?
What is the role of prokaryotes in the nitrogen cycle?
What is the role of prokaryotes in the nitrogen cycle?
Which archaea are known to live in extremely cold environments, such as Antarctic sea ice?
Which archaea are known to live in extremely cold environments, such as Antarctic sea ice?
What is bioremediation?
What is bioremediation?
Which of the following is NOT a common characteristic of pathogenic bacteria?
Which of the following is NOT a common characteristic of pathogenic bacteria?
What percentage w/v of salt concentration do some halophiles prefer?
What percentage w/v of salt concentration do some halophiles prefer?
Which group of prokaryotes is particularly important for the biogeochemical cycling of phosphorus?
Which group of prokaryotes is particularly important for the biogeochemical cycling of phosphorus?
What is a significant challenge when treating diseases caused by biofilm-forming bacteria?
What is a significant challenge when treating diseases caused by biofilm-forming bacteria?
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Study Notes
Characteristics of Living Organisms
- Organization: Life is structured on a cellular level, with cells as fundamental units.
- Homeostasis: Cells maintain chemical balance and energy transformation in response to the environment.
- Reproduction: Organisms replicate, creating genetically similar copies using an instructional genetic code.
- Evolution: Genetic variations occur due to replication errors, driving the evolution of species.
Notable Organisms
-
Pelagibacter ubique:
- Smallest free-living organism; predominant in marine ecosystems.
- Combined weight exceeds all fish in oceans.
- Individual cell volume: 0.019 to 0.039 µm³.
-
Armillaria solidipes:
- Massive parasitic fungus with a network spanning ~10 km².
- Estimated age: ~2400 years; predominantly underground growth.
-
Posidonia australis:
- Aquatic plant spanning ~180 km².
Diversity of Life on Earth
- Life exhibits diversity in size, abundance, habitat, nutritional needs, lifespan, mobility, and variability.
- Common features among living entities: unity of organization, genetic material (DNA), and fundamental biochemical processes.
Essential Biomolecules
- DNA: The genetic material common to all living organisms.
- RNA: Transcribes DNA for protein synthesis, fundamental for cellular functions.
- ATP: Universal energy currency powering cellular processes.
Origin of Life
- Earth's age: ~4.5 billion years; oldest known fossils: ~3.7 billion years.
- Potential origins of life: geothermal pools or hydrothermal vents.
- Concept of "prebiotic soup" and the "RNA world" as theories for early life formation.
Last Universal Common Ancestor (LUCA)
- Existed ~4.2 billion years ago, unicellular, prokaryotic with a genome of around 2.5 million base pairs.
- All current life shares LUCA as a common ancestor.
Three-Domain System
- Organisms categorized as Prokaryotes (without a nucleus) and Eukaryotes (with a nucleus).
Prokaryotic Diversity
- First organisms on Earth; resilient to extreme conditions.
- Prokaryotes represent ~14% of Earth's biomass.
Metabolic Diversity of Prokaryotes
- Capable of various metabolic pathways, utilizing different energy and carbon sources.
- Examples include chemoautotrophs (e.g., Sulfolobus) and photoautotrophs (e.g., cyanobacteria).
Cyanobacteria
- First multicellular organisms, responsible for oxygen production through photosynthesis.
- Key contributors to Earth's primary productivity and historical carbon fixation.
Extremophiles
- Archaea thrive in extreme environments, such as high salinity, acidic springs, and cold habitats (e.g., Antarctic sea ice).
Role of Prokaryotes in Biogeochemical Cycling
- Crucial in nitrogen, carbon, and phosphorus cycling.
- Nitrogen fixation transforms atmospheric N₂ into biologically usable forms like NH₃.
Bioremediation
- Prokaryotes utilized for environmental cleanup, including oil spills and pollutants.
- Not all bacteria are pathogenic; many form biofilms that resist antimicrobial treatment.
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