Biology and Medical Contributions Overview

Blood Cell Formation Rate

• Blood cell formation rate varies between individuals.
• A typical rate averages 200,000,000,000 red blood cells per day, 10,000,000,000 white blood cells per day, and 400,000,000,000 platelets per day.

Hemoglobin Structure

• Hemoglobin is a protein that carries oxygen in red blood cells.
• It consists of four protein chains (two alpha and two beta).
• Each chain has a heme group containing iron, which binds to oxygen.

Galen's Contributions to Medicine

• Galen (129-216 AD) was a physician who explored internal body functions.
• He practiced medicine at gladiator schools and observed injuries to understand the body.
• Galen performed complex operations, including brain and eye surgery, which were not repeated for many centuries.

Characteristics of Living Things

• All living things are made of cells.
• All living things need energy.
• All living things grow and develop.
• All living things respond to their environment.
• All living things reproduce.
• All living things have adaptations for their environment.

Adaptations

• Adaptations are characteristics that allow organisms to survive in their environment.
• Organisms adapt to their environments for survival.
• Examples of adaptations include heart rate reduction to conserve oxygen, storing oxygen in muscle tissues (myoglobin), and blubber to conserve heat.

SARS-CoV-2 Variants (Dec 15, 2023)

• A chart displays various SARS-CoV-2 lineages.
• The chart shows how different strains were developed from existing ones and different mutations.

Organisms

• Organisms are individual animals, plants, or single-celled life forms.
• Organisms have developed various structures to carry out necessary functions.
• Organisms adapt to their environment for survival through different body parts.

The Cell

• Cells are the basic unit of life.
• All organisms are composed of at least one cell.
• Cells originate from other cells.
• Cells are microscopic.
• Size varies between cells such as eukaryotic cells and bacterial cells (50 µm and 5 µm respectively).

Cells in Non-living Things

• The question is raised whether cells exist in non-living things, especially regarding cork.

Energy & Nutrients

• Everything living things do requires energy.
• Nutrients provide energy to living organisms for growth, development, and reproduction.
• Metabolism refers to all the processes within an organism that sustain life.

Cell Parts (Google Slides)

• Refer to Google slides for detailed notes on cell parts.
• A brief reminder of cell components will be provided in the following slides.

Cell Structures

• Organelles are structures inside the cell.
• The cell membrane surrounds and protects the cell contents.
• The cell wall (present in plant cells) provides rigidity and support.
• The cytoplasm is a jelly-like substance inside the cell that distributes materials.

Plant Cells Vs Animal Cells

• Plant cells have cell walls and chloroplasts that animal cells lack.
• Plant cells contain vacuoles, whereas these are smaller in size for animal cells.

Cell Wall

• Found only in plant cells.
• Dead layer, large empty spaces between cellulose fibers.
• Freely permeable
• Forms by thin cellulose fibers.
• Strong and rigid.

Cytoplasm

• Jelly-like substance enclosed by the cell membrane.
• Provides a medium for chemical reactions.
• Contains organelles that carry out specific jobs (chloroplasts and mitochondria).

Nucleus

• Controls cell activities.
• Contains DNA.
• Genetic information bearer of the cell.

Vacuole

• Storage containers for sugars, proteins, minerals, wastes, and pigments.
• Membrane-bound sacs for storing substances.

Chloroplast

• Found only in plant cells.
• Contain chlorophyll for trapping sunlight.
• Carry out photosynthesis to make sugars.

Mitochondria

• The site of cellular respiration.
• Active cells like muscles have more mitochondria.
• Burn sugar into energy ATP.
• Mighty ATP producers in the cell.

Additional Cell Parts (Plant & Animal Cells)

• Refer to Google slides for a detailed breakdown of plant and animal cell structures.

Homework

• Check and Reflect (pg. 109, Questions 1-3) and Draw, Label, and Color Animal and Plant Cells (pg. 109).

Cell Types (Muscle, Skin, Nerve, Blood, Bone)

• Different cell types have specific shapes and functions for their roles in the body.
• Muscle cells are elongated to allow for movement.
• Skin cells are flat to provide a protective layer.
• Nerve cells have long branches for carrying signals.
• Blood cells are thin to maximize oxygen transport.
• Bone cells comprise a thick mineral matrix for support.

Microscope's Role

• Microscopes produce enlarged images of small objects.
• Biologists use microscopes to study tiny things.
• Light microscopes use lenses to focus light.

Organism Classification

• Organisms are either unicellular or multicellular.
• Unicellular organisms use one cell for all life support processes.
• Multicellular organisms use many cells that collaborate in supporting the whole life of the organism.

Organisms (Amoeba and Paramecium)

• Amoeba live in water.
• They use pseudopods for movement and capturing food.
• Paramecium live in fresh water.
• They use cilia for movement.
• Have an "Oral Groove" to gather and digest food within a vacuole.

Multicellular Organisms

• Use multiple specialized cells working together.
• The characteristic allows them to perform complex functions.
• Many specialized types exist for various organism roles.

Cell Parts (Specifics)

• Refer to Google slides for definitions, structures, and functions.

Cell Membrane

• Keep the cytosol and organelles of animal/plant cells enclosed.
• Selectively permeable filter.
• Allows in/out of small molecules.

Diffusion

• Substances move from high to low concentration.
• Easy movement in/out of small molecules through cells (such as oxygen, CO2, and H2O).

Osmosis

• Water moves from low salt to high salt concentration.
• Selectively permeable membrane for water movement in/out of cells.

Active Transport

• Cell expends energy (ATP) to move substances from low to high concentration.
• Used to move large molecules.

Additional Information

• Check Reflect pages 114, Questions 2&5, page 119, Questions 1b, c, 2,4, and 5.
• Further information on cell sizes, multicellular organisms, and related topics can be found in provided sections (e.g., the limits of cell size, types of tissue).