Chapter 1: cells, genomes, and
the diversity of life
Most living organisms are single cells. Others are vast multicellular cities in which groups of cells
perform specialized functions.
Eucaryotic cell --> has a nucleus (kern)
Neuron --> part of the nerve system. (big)
Neutrophil --> floating in our body (small)
Agonist --> activating action in the body
antagonist --> is against an action.
different structure, same formula = chirality --> a non-superimposable set of two molecules that are
mirror image of one another.
The morphine receptor
‘Fentanyl is a hundred times stronger than morphine. Fentanyl binds to a protein (morphine receptor)
in human cells, in cell membrane and kills the pain. They thought it would not make people addicted,
but it is much stronger than morphine.
Sometimes drugs are good, but it can also have a lot of side effects.
Lofentanil (fentanil) is 1000 times stronger than fentanyl.’
The origin of the living cell
3,7 billion years ago --> first cells appeared. Not much later the photosynthesis releases O2
2,5 billion years ago --> start of rapid O2 accumulation
First there had to be enough oxygen to react with the iron. Once the oxygen started to accumulate,
everything went fast, and the first land plants came and created the world we live on in the present
day.
Universal common ancestral cell (LUCA): is the most recent population from which all organisms now
living on Earth share common descent.
Experiment by Stanley Miller
Stanley Miller stimulated the early conditions of life with his experiment.
the diversity of life
Most living organisms are single cells. Others are vast multicellular cities in which groups of cells
perform specialized functions.
Eucaryotic cell --> has a nucleus (kern)
Neuron --> part of the nerve system. (big)
Neutrophil --> floating in our body (small)
Agonist --> activating action in the body
antagonist --> is against an action.
different structure, same formula = chirality --> a non-superimposable set of two molecules that are
mirror image of one another.
The morphine receptor
‘Fentanyl is a hundred times stronger than morphine. Fentanyl binds to a protein (morphine receptor)
in human cells, in cell membrane and kills the pain. They thought it would not make people addicted,
but it is much stronger than morphine.
Sometimes drugs are good, but it can also have a lot of side effects.
Lofentanil (fentanil) is 1000 times stronger than fentanyl.’
The origin of the living cell
3,7 billion years ago --> first cells appeared. Not much later the photosynthesis releases O2
2,5 billion years ago --> start of rapid O2 accumulation
First there had to be enough oxygen to react with the iron. Once the oxygen started to accumulate,
everything went fast, and the first land plants came and created the world we live on in the present
day.
Universal common ancestral cell (LUCA): is the most recent population from which all organisms now
living on Earth share common descent.
Experiment by Stanley Miller
Stanley Miller stimulated the early conditions of life with his experiment.
