Bio 101 (Characteristics of Water)

Module 1

1. What are the unique characteristics of water that allow it to support life on earth?

One of the things that make our planet special is the presence of liquid water. Water is fundamental for all life; without it every living thing would die. It covers about 70% of Earth's surface and it makes up 65-75% of our bodies (82% of our blood is water). The chemical composition of water is H2O - two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. Water has special properties because of the way these atoms bond together to form a water molecule, and the way the molecules interact with each other. Water has several physical and chemical properties that are suited for sustaining life. These properties come from the nature of the water molecule. When a large body of water freezes in the winter, ice forms at the surface, but not deep down. Because Earth is mainly covered in water, water helps stabilize the planet's temperature by absorbing and releasing heat. Water is polar; it dissolves many kinds of molecules, it has a surface tension, cohesion, etc. It resists temperature changes given a more constant environment for aquatic organism, water expands when it freezes, it breaks rocks into soil.

2. List 5 organelles and their essential functions.

Nucleus – It is the command center of the cell and where ribosomes are produced. It has a double membrane between it and the cytoplasm. Have nuclear pores with proteins that regulate passage into and out of the nucleus.

Mitochondria – It’s an organelle in which energy is extracted from food during oxidative metabolism.

Gogi Complex – Collects, packages, and distributes molecules manufactured in the cell.

Ribosomes – Small complex of RNA and protein that are the sites of protein synthesis.

Centrioles – Complex assembly of microtubules that occurs in pairs.

3. List 3 features of plants cells that are not present in animal cells.

Cell wall, Plastids, and Chloroplast.

4. What are the key differences...