...g A New Molecule of Life Life as we know it is far more complex than one can imagine. The smallest molecule in human body can play a large role in determining the genetic outcome or the overall well being of a person. In Peter Nielsen’s “Designing a New Molecule of Life”, he speaks of a molecule that hopefully one day will create a scientific and medical breakthrough. In this essay you will read a summary of Peter Nielsen’s article and the research he has done with this molecule. Peter Nielson, along with many other scientists, have spent years creating and experimenting with a synthetic molecule called peptide nucleic acid (PNA). PNA is an artificial polymer that has many similarities to deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). It has the same storing features as DNA and RNA while being built on a protein based backbone therefore making it sturdier and simpler than the sugar phosphate-backbone. The molecule was created in hopes of having an immediate affect by pursuing a drug that would target DNA’s composing specific genes, to either enhance or block the gene’s expression. This new drug would be in efforts to interfere with the production of disease producing proteins. Although this molecule has produced highly anticipated medical research, it has also lead to speculations of being the origins of life. In his years of research, Peter Nielsen and his colleagues wanted to achieve the ability of PNA recognizing double-stranded or duplex DNA having specific...
Words: 521 - Pages: 3
...Peter Nielsen: Designing A New Molecule of Life Life as we know it is far more complex than one can imagine. The smallest molecule in the human body can play a large role in determining the genetic outcome or the overall well being of a person. In Peter Nielsen’s “Designing a New Molecule of Life”, he speaks of a molecule that hopefully one day will create a scientific and medical breakthrough. In this essay you will read a summary of Peter Nielsen’s article and the research he has done with this molecule. Peter Nielson, along with many other scientists, have spent years creating and experimenting with a synthetic molecule called peptide nucleic acid (PNA). PNA is an artificial polymer that has many similarities to deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). It has the same storing features as DNA and RNA while being built on a protein based backbone therefore making it sturdier and simpler than the sugar phosphate-backbone. The molecule was created in hopes of having an immediate affect by pursuing a drug that would target DNA’s composing specific genes, to either enhance or block the gene’s expression. This new drug would be in efforts to interfere with the production of disease producing proteins. Although this molecule has produced highly anticipated medical research, it has also lead to speculations of being the origins of life. In his years of research, Peter Nielsen and his colleagues wanted to achieve the ability of PNA recognizing double-stranded...
Words: 589 - Pages: 3
...water when they travel to other new planets due to the fact that in order for living organisms to survive in those planets, there needs to be sources of water to sustain life on those planets. If humans can find water on a different planet, then they could make the claim that life could already be on these planets, or that life can be sustained on these planets. My evidence is that in order for life to be sustained on a planet, this planet must contain the six most common elements needed for life, known as SPONCH. SPONCH stands for Sulfur, Phospherous, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Carbon, and Hydrogen. Hydrogen as well as Oxygen are both required in order for water molecules to be formed, which means that these six elements should be found and attainable on these planets in order for them to be very sustainable for any forms of life to be able to actually live on...
Words: 1531 - Pages: 7
...review the research documents of new technology computer-aided microscopic rare gene molecules. The team of criminologists will consider the legal or not legal aspects of the doctor’s request for a patent, along with the viability of current transplant procedures. The scenario states the doctor has invented a computer – aided organism as key to bridge the new cells to human organs in the host receiver. This is a new concept of using microscopic rare gene molecules to make any human organ viable for everyone without the side effects of rejection, or infections. This research document is the collective, innovative thoughts and opinions of four people team. Patent Requirements The filing of medical patent begins with two important points. The first point begins as the criminologists will determine the usability of the new technology. The computer – aided microscopic rare gene molecules are the key to bridge genetically designed new cells to the human organs within the host receiver. This concept would make the genetically engineered cells for the damaged organ acceptable to the host receiver. The viable idea is to inject the microscopic rare gene molecules straight into the damaged organ along with the anti-infection drugs. The second important point is the innovative studies to confirm the computer- aided microscopic rare gene molecules cure the damaged organ with no side effects or rejections. The computer- aided microscopic rare gene molecules have the ability to split into...
Words: 2071 - Pages: 9
...Cells Biology- the study of life and living organisms Living- uses energy, maintains itself, capability to reproduce, and development/growth; also part of a population that evolve (each generation differs from the ones before and after) Cells- basic unit of life Prokaryotic- lacking nucleus Bacteria “archaea” Eukaryotic- nucleus Plants Animals Fungi Eukaryotic Nucleus- surrounded by a double membrane; contains DNA Linear chromosomes Cytoplasm contains everything outside of the nucleus Cytoskeleton crisscrosses the cell- holds shape and allows for cell movement Cytoplasm contains organelles- each plays a role in the functioning of the cell Organelles are surrounded by membranes Ribosomes- assemble proteins, only organelle not surrounded by membrane; some are suspended in cytoplasm and some are attached to Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum- assembles proteins for the cell membrane or outside of the cell Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum- assembles membranes Golgi Apparatus- “post office of the cell” Lysosomes- “garbage disposal of the cell” eats organic waste/ damaged organelles; some used to destroy bacteria Vacuoles- sacs surrounded by membrane used to store/expel nutrients or other materials such as pigments and hormones. Mitochondria- organelles that break down molecules to obtain energy for the cell Chloroplasts- plant cell structure that captures energy from sunlight to build molecules Cell membrane- defines cell’s...
Words: 977 - Pages: 4
...Enzymes are a key aspect in our everyday life and are a key to sustaining life. They are biological catalysts that help speed up the rate of reactions. They do this by lowering the activation energy of chemical reactions (Biology Department, 2011). In chemical reactions bonds must be broken and new bonds must be formed. In order for this to occur the bonds must be made less stable. For bonds to become less stable a small input of energy is required and this is called the activation energy. In simpler terms, in order for a reaction to begin and proceed spontaneously a small input energy is required to give the reaction a push and get it started (Cooper, 2000). As said before catalysts are chemical agents used to speed up the rates of reactions. The biological catalyst is a group of proteins called enzymes. Enzymes work by lowering the activation energy and making it easier for the reactants to obtain the necessary energy to break the kinetic barrier. Even though enzymes speed up the rate of reaction, they do not change the free energy of the reactants and the products (Russel et al., 2010). Enzymes work by combining with reacting molecules at the active site. Each enzyme is specific to only one kind of molecule and can only bind to its specific molecule. The active site is a groove in the enzyme where the molecule will bind to; this is formed by the enzyme folding into a specific shape. When the enzyme is done and the molecules are then in the transitional state, which...
Words: 301 - Pages: 2
...University of Phoenix Material What Is Life? Read each statement. Write a 100-word summary explaining how that media piece supports that statement and include reference citations. 1. Find a media piece—article, video, presentation, song, or other—related to the scientific method, creating hypotheses, or designing experiments. Include the link or reference citation for the piece and describe how it helped you better understand how the scientific method is used to create hypotheses and experiments. [pic] 2. Find a media piece—article, video, presentation, song, or other—that recognizes the fundamental concepts of chemistry in biology. Include the link or reference citation for the piece and describe how it helped you better understand how fundamental concepts of chemistry affect biology. [pic] 3. Find a media piece—article, video, presentation, song, or other—that describes the energy metabolism of cells. Include the link or reference citation for the piece and describe how it helped you better understand the energy metabolism of cells. [pic] 4. Find a media piece—article, video, presentation, song, or other—that compares structures and functions of different cell types. Include the link or reference citation for the piece and describe how it helped you better compare structures and functions of different cell types...
Words: 1397 - Pages: 6
...Napoleon’s Buttons: How 17 Molecules Changed History is a chemistry book which was written by Penny LeCouteur and Jay Burreson. The book was written to go deeper into chemistry and explained how it works. The structure of the polymer, molecule, the compound, the elements it has had many impacts on how it is used and how it has affected many of us. Many of the items mentioned in the book are objects that we used or consumed in our everyday lives and we don’t see the complexity in it. In chapter 1, which it’s called “Peppers, Nutmeg, and Cloves”, talks mainly about the history of pepper, spices, and the molecules of it. It also talks about the trade of New York with Nutmeg. Pepper became very important throughput history it was valuated back...
Words: 602 - Pages: 3
...nerve cells carry nerve impulses to different parts of the body which carry electrical signals around the body. The female reproductive system function (in the cell) is to join with the male cell and providing food for the new cell’s that has been formed. | Organelle-Organelles are tiny structures that perform very specific functions within the calls. The term is a reference to organs, and the way these structures operate in cells, to the way organs function in the body. Each has its own task, such as producing energy. | Organisms are composed of cells, and these cells have specific structures within in them and this allows them to carry out their functions. The fine detail of the cell (which could be revealed by an electron microscope) this is called the cell’s ultrastructure. Organelles perform different functions within a cell, and this is called the division of labour. | Nucleus- The nucleus is the central and most important part of an object, movement, or group forming the basis for its activity and growth. It help’s controls eating, movement and reproduction. The nucleus is a dark spot in the middle of all the cytoplasm. | In the nuclear membrane, it contains the majority of the cell’s genetic material, this material is organised as DNA molecules and this also forms chromosomes. The nucleus is made up of a double membrane nuclear envelope that keeps the entire organelle encased, which isolates its contents from the rest of the cell, the nucleus maintains the...
Words: 1284 - Pages: 6
...E35/CE/KER/10801/2013 OZONE LAYER Ozone layer is a deep layer in the stratosphere, encircling the earth that has large amounts of ozone in it. Ozone is a colourless gas found in the upper atmosphere of the earth that is formed when oxygen molecules absorbs ultraviolet, and undergo a chemical reaction known as photo dissociation or photolysis. In this process, a single molecule of oxygen breaks down into two oxygen atoms.The free oxygen atom[o],then combines with an oxygen molecule[02] and forms a molecule of ozone[03].The ozone molecule in turn absorbs ultraviolet rays between 310-200nn[nanometer] wavelength and thereby prevent these harmful radiations from entering the earth’s atmosphere. Ozone layer was discovered in 1913 by the French physicists Charles Fabry and Henri Buisson,and its properties were explored by the British meteologist G.M.B Dobson,who developed a simple spectrophotometer[Dobsonmeter]that could be used to measure stratospheric ozone from the ground. Ozone layer acts as a shield for the earth from very harmful UV rays.If we damage the ozone layer anymore then we would put ourselves at an increasingly greater risks because we cannot survive without the ozone layer.Exposure to UV rays causes skin cancer,damage crops and harms ocean life,e.g polar shifting, that is,a complex event that occurs when uneven melting of ice occur_a major hole is now over Antarctica,where there are ice shitfs.If this melts,it could increase coastal flooding and the poles could shift,causing...
Words: 949 - Pages: 4
...of magma and vaporized rock, spitting up nothing more than magma volcanoes. This infant planet is very different from the one we know today. Its atmosphere is comprised of deadly gasses and probably had a sky the color of a pinkish-orange. Its oceans containing large quantities of dissolved iron were most likely a kind of brown color. Life on early Earth began with very little amounts of oxygen compared to the quantities we have today, it was comprised of primitive elements and very slowly evolved into the Earth we know today. Had you been on Earth all that time ago, when it was just beginning to evolve, you would have died with just a few deep breaths! Earth’s early atmosphere contained little or no oxygen. It was primarily comprised of carbon dioxide, water vapor, and nitrogen, with smaller amounts of carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, and hydrogen cyanide. Over time a controversial question emerged, could organic molecules assemble under the conditions on early Earth? In 1953, biochemists Stanley L. Miller and Harold C. Urey conducted an experiment to find these answers; they tested for what kind of environment would be needed to allow life to begin. To start they used water, methane, ammonia and hydrogen, component believed to represent major elements in early Earth’s atmosphere. These chemicals were all sealed and circulated inside a sterile array of glass tubes connected together in a loop, with one sterile flask with, and another flask containing electrodes. The liquid...
Words: 1573 - Pages: 7
...actually read the chapters for review and understanding. Do not just look for answers to the questions provided. Review all diagrams provided. The majority of the material in these beginning chapters should be a review for you. If need be, focus on those areas which may seem less familiar. After reviewing this material independently during the summer, it is expected that you have a solid understanding of these basic concepts for the start of this course. Prepare any specific questions that you may have. Again, this is an independent review and you will be expected to know these concepts for future use and assessment. This introductory material will not be covered in detail during class time. Chapter 1: Introduction: Themes in the Study of Life 1. Explain the importance of a biological hierarchy in terms of biological organization. 2. Why must scientists study the interactions of organisms with each other and the environment? 3. Comment on the relationship between structure and function in biology. 4. How specifically is the cell life’s basic unit of structure and function? 5. What is the significance of DNA to organisms? 6. Explain the basic concept of a biological feedback system. How does it work? 7. Explain briefly how life’s vast organisms are classified. Give the basic ideas. Make sure to include domains in your discussion. 8. Explain Darwin’s mechanism of evolutionary adaptation called natural selection. 9. Explain...
Words: 2561 - Pages: 11
...of the Three (3) Current Competing Theories of the Origin of Life on Earth: It Arrived from an Extraterrestrial Source; It Originated as a Heterotroph; It Originated as an Autotroph. Summary of the three (3) current competing theories of the origin of life on Earth: It arrived from an extraterrestrial source; it originated as a heterotroph; it originated as an autotroph. Scientists to this day do not know how life came about on Earth. Yet, they continue to stuerwtdy many kinds of evidence and continue their research. At present there are three competing theories one how life on Earth came about. Life arrived here from an extraterrestrial source. Swedish scientist Svante Arrhenius popularized the idea of panspermia in the early nineties; the concept that life arose outside the Earth and that living things were transported to Earth to seed the planet with life. According to this passage, his theory does not explain how life arose originally, even though it had little scientific support at that time. His theory has been revived and modified after gaining new evidence from the examinations of meteorites and space explorations. Organic molecules are found in many meteorites, and this suggests that life may have existed elsewhere in the solar system. An analysis of a meteorite found in Antarctica in 1996 suggested that from its chemical make up, it was a portion of Mars, also the presence of complex organic molecules and small globules resembles those found on earth. Yet scientists...
Words: 687 - Pages: 3
...between organisms and their environment. We also need to consider the potential effects that these relationships have, not only on individual organisms and their environment, but also on our planet. WATER Organisms need water to survive. The good news is that water cycles through ecosystems. The bad news is that, at times, the amount of water available can be too great (as in the case of floods) or too little (as in the case of drought). Some species have adapted to these conditions and possess adaptations that increase their chances of survival. Other organisms are not so fortunate and severe conditions of too much or too little water can result in their death. If too many of a particular type of organism die, then the decrease in their population size can have implications not only for other members of their food web, but also for other biotic and abiotic factors within their ecosystem. ENERGY As energy flows through ecosystems, from producers to consumers to detrivores to decomposers, some energy is lost at each level. The Sun is life’s main energy supply. Using energy from the Sun, plants make their own food through the process of photosynthesis. Plants need to use most of the energy from the food they make for everyday life processes, such as growing and producing flowers and seeds. On average, only about one-tenth ( 1 10 or 10%) of a plant’s food energy gets stored as nutrients in...
Words: 755 - Pages: 4
...SCIE206-1401B-08 Photosynthesis and cellular respiration make one large cycle that sustains life on earth. Through photosynthesis the suns energy is constantly being transformed into glucose, which is a chemical energy. Respiration is the chemical activity that occurs in all plants and animal cells that release the energy from the glucose. Photosynthesis cannot exist with cellular respiration, they are completely linked together in providing the energy through the food we eat. Cloud, D (2012). Photosynthesis and cellular respiration have an inverse relationship, they are opposite of each other. Photosynthesis is the process by which carbon dioxide is converted into compounds from the sunlight. The most frequent compound being glucose (sugar). Photosynthesis occurs in plants, algae, and some bacteria. Editorial Board (2014). Cellular respiration, in contrast takes the glucose (sugar) and other compounds oxidizing them to created carbon dioxide. Each cycle depends on the other in order for the completion to take place. The complete cycle ensures that life continues to exist, both being necessary for living organisms. Cloud, D. (2012). Photosynthesis is a natural process that provides all aerobic creatures on eth with oxygen. Without photosynthesis, humans would not be able to exist. Photosynthesis maintains the natural amount of oxygen in the air. It provides oxygen for life and the process of cellular respirations. Photosynthesis releases oxygen as a byproduct. The...
Words: 1391 - Pages: 6
