Tui Bio 101 Mod 1 Case

BIO 101, MOD 1, CS PAGE 1

Running head: Cell Structure

TUI UNIVERSITY

Module 01 – Case Assignment

BIO 101

Professor

BIO 101, MOD 1, CS PAGE 2

I. Unique Characteristics of Water in Order to Support Life

Water covers approximately 70% of the planet and is a necessity to sustain life. Without enough of it, every organism on earth would die. Water is the most common compound found in all-living things and has unique features that allow it to support life on earth. The characteristics of water that is required to support life is cohesion, ability to absorb/release heat, density, and its solvent abilities. (Introduction to chemistry of water)

Water molecules are attracted to each other through cohesion which is a collective action of hydrogen bonds between water molecules. With that, water also has high adhesion properties because of its polar nature. Cohesion is the attraction of the same type of molecules such as water while adhesion is the attraction of other polar molecules. In biological cells and organelles, water maintains contact with the membranes and protein surfaces that are polar as well as hydrophilic (i.e., surfaces that have a strong attraction to water). This allows water molecules to adhere to plant cell walls, which allows the water to counteract gravity while being transported from the roots to the leaves. Due to the cohesive properties, water exhibits a high surface tension two to four times that of other organic liquids. Surface tension allows it to resist an external force, thus allowing some things like plants, insects and animals to float on its surface. (Chaplin, 2013)

Another significant aspect of water is its capacity to absorb and release heat (energy). Because living organisms are primarily composed of water, its properties, including its

high specific heat is imperative in supporting life on earth. Water’s high specific heat allows organisms’ body temperature to...