STM 007 GENERAL BIOLOGY

1ST QUARTER 1ST SEM

MODULE 1: THE THOERIES ABOUT THE
ORIGIN OF LIFE
Biogenesis theory was favored most by the
scientific community. The term ‘biogenesis’
comes from ‘bio’ meaning ‘life’, and
‘genesis’, meaning ‘beginning’
The study of living organisms such as
plants, animals, and microorganisms is an
1. The hair of a horse tail dipped in
active area of Biology.
the water gives rise to a horsehair
Theory - is a widely accepted explanation worm, Gordius.
of a biological phenomenon based on sound 2. Fly larvae develop on rotten meat.
evidence from rigorous empirical 3. Van Helmont claimed that he
experiments and scientific observations. could produce mice from the dirty
shirt and handful of wheat grains
SIX MAJOR THEORIES ARE PROPOSED
kept in a dark cupboard in 3 weeks.
TO EXPLAIN THE ORIGIN OF LIFE ON
3. (Louis Pasteur) - According to this
EARTH
theory, life can arise from pre-
1. Divine/Special Creation Theory existing living things. Lazzaro
(Religion/Christian belief) – proposes Spallanzani, Francisco Redi, and
that life on earth is created by Louis Pasteur performed well
supernatural power the GOD. designed scientific experiments to
According to Christian belief, God disprove the theory of spontaneous
created the universe, planets,
animals, plants and human in six

generations.
 Francisco Redi - suggested
natural days. that life did not originated from
Beliefs in the theory of special non-living matter(meat), but
creation: instead from a living matter like
1. All living organisms were created the flies who laid eggs which
on the same day. [No difference in eventually turned to maggots.
their appearance].  Lazzaro Spallanzani – he concluded
2. They were created in the present that a longer heating period and high
form. [No evolution]. temperature boiling had killed all
3. Their bodies and organs are fully microorganisms and in the absence of
developed to meet the requirements microorganisms, life could not appear
to run life. [No adaptation] like what happened in the sealed
2. (Spontaneous Generation bottle on his experiment.
Theory) (Alexander Oparin & J.B.S
Haldane) – it assumes that non-
living material in a spontaneous
manner gives rise to life.
Observations that support this
theory:
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 Louis Pasteur – He was convinced Note: The main objection against this
that even when exposed to air, life theory is that it could not explain evidence
did not arise from non- life. He supporting the formation of Earth, and then
believes that life came from pre- life appeared on it.
existing life. the forms found in the
MODULE 2: THE LEVELS OF
broth after it was opened came from
ORGANIZATION OF LIVING THINGS
the living matter found in the air.
Theory of Catastrophism (Bishop James Every organism has a highly organized
Ussher & Baron Georges Cuvier) - assumes body system from smallest to the complex
that life originated by creation and is structure working together to perform
followed by catastrophe due to specific function for an organism to live,
geographical disturbances. adapt, reproduce, and survive.
Note: Each catastrophe destroyed life LIVING ORGANISMS - are characterized
completely, whereas each creation forms by a highly organized structure and
life differently from the previous one. arranged in a hierarchical pattern.

LEVELS OF ORGANIZATION
1. ATOM 6. ORGAN
2. MOLECULES 7. ORGAN
SYSTEM
3. ORGANELLE 8. ORGANISM
4. CELL 9.
POPULATION
5. TISSUE 10.
COMMUNITY
11. ECOSYSTEM 12. BIOSPHERE
Theory of Cosmozoic (Richter & 1. ATOM - smallest scale. fundamental unit
Arrhenius) - also known as Theory of of matter. They form molecules when atom
Panspermia or Apore Theory. assumes that combines. Basic unit of life.
life was present in the form of resistant
spores and appeared on Earth from another
planet. these spores grew and evolved into
different organisms.
Note: This theory does not add much to the
fundamental details about the origin of life.
No scientific experiments support this
theory.
Theory of Eternity of Life (Hermann
Bondi, Thomas Gold, & Fred Hoyle) - also
known as Steady State Theory - assumes
that life has no beginning or end. believes
that life has always existed and will
continue to be so. no question of the origin
of life as it has no beginning or end.
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2.MOLECULES - chemical structure 7. ORGAN SYSTEM - higher level of
consisting of at least two atoms held organization that consist of functionally
together by one or more chemical bonds. related organs
8. ORGANISM - living individual intities
- DNA which contains the instructions for
which composed of various organ system
the structure and functioning of your body.
that function altogether
9. POPULATION - group of organisms of
the same species living together within a
3. ORGANELLE - subunit of a cell and specific area
consist of functioning biomolecules. take 10. COMMUNITY - group of organisms
part in the chemical reaction and composed of different species which and
interactions of cellular processes of an interacting in a certain area
organism. 11. ECOSYSTEM - group of organisms of
having an interaction with non-living
environment (air, nitrogen, soil, rainwater)
12. BIOSPHERE - global sum of all
ecosystem and represents the zone of life
on earth

4. CELL - building blocks of life

- classified as prokaryotic (single cell) and
eukaryotic (multicellular)
ROBERT HOOKE - The first one who
discovered the cell looked through a
primitive microscope at a thinly cut piece of
cork (dead cell walls of plant cell)
ANTON VAN LEEUWENHOEK - The first
man who witness a live cell under a
microscope in 1674. These tiny single-cell
organisms are known as today as
microorganisms, and he is known as the
Father of Microbiology.
5.TISSUE - group of similar cells
performing specific function within an
organism
ANIMAL TISSUES: Epthelial Tissues,
Muscle Tissues, and Nervous Tissues
PLANT TISSUES: Vascular, Dermal
and Ground Tissues
6. ORGAN - collection of tissues group
together performing “common function
VITAL ORGAN (ANIMALS
VITAL ORGAN (PLANTS)
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MODULE 3: THE DEVELOPMENT OF contribute to the cell theory. He
CELL THEORY was a German botanist. Schleiden
discovered that all plants are made
Cell Theory was developed.
of up cells. He also recognized the
1. ZACHARIAS importance of the nuclues in a cell.
JANSSEN & HANS
5. THEODORE SCHWANN - In
JANSSEN - Hans and 1839, one year after Schleiden discovered
Zacharias Janssen that all plants are made up of
made the first cells, Theodor Schwann
compound discovered that all animals are
microscope by made up of cells. This is the
combining two second person to contributed to
convex lenses inside a tube. Zacharias the cell theory. Schwann was a
Janssen is the son of Hans Janssen. German zoologist. He was also
Zacharias developed the idea and the the first person to use the term
blueprints. Hans did the building and metabolism. Schwann studied
the construction. digestion in animals.
6. RUDOLF VIRCHOW - In 1855,
2. ROBERT HOOKE - In 1665, Robert Virchow developed the third and
Hooke studied thin slices of dead cork final part of the cell theory. He
under a microscope. Hooke named cells stated that all living things come
after the rooms in the monestary, becuase from other living things. Virchow
he said they looked like the walls in the was the first to witness a cell
rooms known as "cells". He discovered that divide. He also analysed the effects of
cells are the basic unit of life. Hooke diseses in organs in tissues in the body.
These contributions formed the basis of the
cell theory, which can be summarized in
three main tenets:
1. All living organisms are composed of one
or more cells.
2. The cell is the basic unit of life in all
intorduced cells to living things.
the world of science.
3. All cells arise from pre-existing, living
- Before the microscope, scientists couldn't cells.
see cells because they are simply too small
Imagine trying to find a tiny grain of sand MODULE 4: INTRODUCTION TO CELL
on a beach without any tools STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS OF
ANIMAL AND PLANT CELL
3. ANTON VAN LEEUWENHOEK -
Leeuwenhoek improved the use of CELL - referred to as "the building blocks of
the microscope. In order to clarify life"
the view and magnification,  All forms of life, from simple bacteria
Leeuwenhoek polished the lenses to human beings, are made up of
in the microscope. Leeuwenhoek cells.
was 16 years old when he first  Plant and animal life are made up of
studied with a microscope as an cells that are the same in most
intern for a cloth merechant. He then respects.
started making his own microscopes.  In both animals and plants, cells
4. MATTHIAS SCHLEIDEN - Matthias generally become specialized to
Schleiden was the first scientist to perform certain functions
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FUNCTION: - protects the cell, provides

structural and support, and gives shape to
ORGANELLES - are a subcellular structure
the cell.
that has one or more specific jobs to
perform in the cell 2. PLASMA MEMBRANE - a phospholipid
bilayer with embedded proteins that
NOTE: They are involved in many
separates the internal contents of the
processes, for example energy production,
cell from its surrounding environment
building proteins and secretions, destroying
FUNCTION: - controls the passage of
toxins, and responding to external signals
organic molecule, ions, water and
LIST OF ORGANELLES oxygen into and out of the cell
3. ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM - a
1. CELL WALL 8. series of interconnected membranous
PEROXISOME sacs and tubules within the cytoplasm
2. PLASMA MEMBRANE 9. that collectively modifies proteins and
MITOCHONDRIA synthesizes lipids
2 TYPES:
3 ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM 10. o Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum
CHLOROPLAST (RER) - become rough due to the
ribosomes attached to the
4. CYTOPLASM 11.
membrane
VACUOLES
FUNCTION: -protein synthesis
5. RIBOSOMES 12. o Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum
CYTOSKELETON (SER) - a network of tubular sacs
without ribosomes on the
6. GOLGI BODY 13.
membrane.
NUCLEUS
FUNCTION synthesis of
7. LYSOSOMES
carbohydrates, lipids and steroid
1.CELL WALL - the covering of the plant hormone
cell which is present only in plants -it is
predominantly made up of cellulose.
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4. CYTOPLASM - it is the entire region of 9. MITOCHONDRIA - are oval-shaped,
cell between the plasma membrane double membrane organelles that have
and the nuclear envelope their own ribosomes and DNA.
- It is the fluid portion of the cell - called as the power house of the cell
approximately 70% - 80% water where or energy factories
all organelles appear to be floating. FUNCTION: - responsible for making
- Cytosol is the fluid portion of the adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the cells
cytoplasm. main energy carrying molecule.
FUNCTION: - to maintain shape to the 10.CHLOROPLAST - are plant cell
cell, bear cell organelles and carryout organelles that carry out
different metabolic processes photosynthesis - contain the
5. RIBOSOMES - appears either as photosynthetic pigment chlorophyll
cluster (polyribosomes) or single - tiny that gives most plants their green color
dots that float freely in the cytoplasm. FUNCTION: the site of photosynthesis
FUNCTION: - for protein synthesis in plants
Protein synthesis - an essential NOTE: The major difference between
function of all cells including enzymes, plant and animal:
hormones, antibodies, pigments, A. Plant (Autotrophs) - can make
structural components and surface their own food
receptors. B. Animal (Heterotrophs) - cannot
6. GOLGI BODY/ GOLGI APPARATUS - make their own food
has a series or stacks of flattened 11.VACUOLES - Plant cells specialized
membrane bound organelle that forms membrane bounded structures
a complex structure - named after - Large central vacuoles occupies the
Camillo Golgi, an Italian physician who 90% of the cell volume
first identified them FUNCTION: - regulating the cell’s
FUNCTION: - Sorting, tagging, concentration of water in changing
packaging, and distribution of lipids and environmental conditions
proteins destined to leave the cell 12.CYTOSKELETON - a network of
7. LYSOSOMES - a membrane bounded protein fibers
digestive vesicle arise from Golgi FUNCTION: - help maintain the shape
apparatus of the cell, secure some organelles in
FUNCTION: use hydrolytic enzyme to specific positions, allows cytoplasm
destroy pathogens that might enter to and vesicles to move within the cell
the cell NOTE: Has 3 types:
NOTE: - This organelle can only be A. Microfilaments
found in animal cell B. Intermediate filaments
- called suicidal bag of cell because it C. Microtubule
contains hydrolytic enzyme that 13.NUCLEUS - known as the governor of
capable of degrading or breaking down the cell
macromolecules, destroying pathogens - has the genetic material DNA
that may enter to the cell FUNCTION: - controls all the activities
8. PEROXISOMES - are small, round of every organelle inside the cell
organelles enclosed by single NOTE: Inside the nucleus is the
membranes nucleolus
FUNCTION: - detoxify many poisons - a region where intensive synthesis of
that may enter the body Ribosomal RNA is taking place.
NOTE: -Peroxisomes and Lysosomes
has similarity because they both used
enzyme for degradation and breaking
down of chemical components.
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