Big Ideas in Biology
I. Structure-Function Relationships:
● The form of any object will determine what it does, and in turn if we see
an object doing a certain job we can predict what form it must have.
● When we find a form that is critical for some function, and therefore it is
always present when that function is needed, we call it a conserved
structure.
II. Emergent Properties:
● The increasing complexity that comes with higher levels of
organization also makes it possible to create something new that did
not exist before, with new properties not found at a lower level known
as emergent properties,
III. Energy Transformation:
● All energy transformations in living cells will have two possible
outcomes; energy can either be used to do work OR it can be released
as heat.
● Consuming organic matter to build new molecules involves
transformation of energy.
IV. Regulatory Mechanisms
● Living organisms strive to maintain metabolism through homeostasis
and feedback loops.
V. Evolution
● All living things are related through common ancestry.
VI. Cell Theory:
● ALL living things are made of cells.
● ALL cells come from pre-existing cells.
Cells
I. All cells (prokaryotes and eukaryotes) have these structures:
● Cell membrane
● Cytoplasm (cytosol)
● DNA (chromosomes) and RNA
● Ribosomes
II. Prokaryotes include bacteria and archea, which are simple structures.
III. Eukaryotes include animal cells, plant cells, and protists:
● More complex because of their endomembrane system, membrane
bound organelles, and complex cytoskeleton.
● Endomembrane system consists of the nuclear envelope, the smooth
, and rough ER, the Golgi apparatus, vesicles, and endosomes.
→ Allows for compartmentalization, or multiple reactions being able to
occur simultaneously
● Membrane bound organelles (MBOs) include mitochondria and
chloroplasts, which originated through endosymbiosis (prokaryotes
living symbiotically) and contain their own DNA + ribosomes (meaning
they can self-replicate).
● Complex cytoskeleton is evolved a supporting network of proteins.
Comparing Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes
Prokaryotes Eukaryotes
Simple and small in structure Complex and large in structure
Don’t contain complex features Contain endomembrane system, MBOs,
and cytoskeleton
All contain a cell wall Only plant cells contain a cell wall
Contain DNA, RNA, cytoplasm, Contain DNA, RNA, cytoplasm,
ribosomes, and cell membrane (self ribosomes, and cell membrane (self
replicable) replicable)
Prokaryotic Cell Eukaryotic Cell (Animal) Eukaryotic Cell (Plant)
Cell Organelles:
Location and Function
, Organelle Function Prokaryotes? Eukaryotes Eukaryotes
(animal cell)? (plant cell)?
Cytoplasm Environment for Yes Yes Yes
cellular chemical
reactions
RNA Synthesizes Yes Yes Yes
ribosomes
Cell Membrane Transports molecules Yes Yes Yes
into or out of the cell
Ribosome Synthesizes proteins Yes Yes Yes
DNA Stores genetic info Yes Yes Yes
(chromosomes)
Cell Wall External support for Yes No Yes
the cell
Nucleus Makes membrane No Yes Yes
(nuclear components and
envelope) organelles
Golgi apparatus Sorts proteins for No Yes Yes
transport in the cell
Vacuole Storage and support No Yes (regular) Yes (central)
for cell
Lysosome Digestion/breakdown No Yes Yes
of molecules
Vesicle Help with cell No Yes Yes
transport
I. Structure-Function Relationships:
● The form of any object will determine what it does, and in turn if we see
an object doing a certain job we can predict what form it must have.
● When we find a form that is critical for some function, and therefore it is
always present when that function is needed, we call it a conserved
structure.
II. Emergent Properties:
● The increasing complexity that comes with higher levels of
organization also makes it possible to create something new that did
not exist before, with new properties not found at a lower level known
as emergent properties,
III. Energy Transformation:
● All energy transformations in living cells will have two possible
outcomes; energy can either be used to do work OR it can be released
as heat.
● Consuming organic matter to build new molecules involves
transformation of energy.
IV. Regulatory Mechanisms
● Living organisms strive to maintain metabolism through homeostasis
and feedback loops.
V. Evolution
● All living things are related through common ancestry.
VI. Cell Theory:
● ALL living things are made of cells.
● ALL cells come from pre-existing cells.
Cells
I. All cells (prokaryotes and eukaryotes) have these structures:
● Cell membrane
● Cytoplasm (cytosol)
● DNA (chromosomes) and RNA
● Ribosomes
II. Prokaryotes include bacteria and archea, which are simple structures.
III. Eukaryotes include animal cells, plant cells, and protists:
● More complex because of their endomembrane system, membrane
bound organelles, and complex cytoskeleton.
● Endomembrane system consists of the nuclear envelope, the smooth
, and rough ER, the Golgi apparatus, vesicles, and endosomes.
→ Allows for compartmentalization, or multiple reactions being able to
occur simultaneously
● Membrane bound organelles (MBOs) include mitochondria and
chloroplasts, which originated through endosymbiosis (prokaryotes
living symbiotically) and contain their own DNA + ribosomes (meaning
they can self-replicate).
● Complex cytoskeleton is evolved a supporting network of proteins.
Comparing Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes
Prokaryotes Eukaryotes
Simple and small in structure Complex and large in structure
Don’t contain complex features Contain endomembrane system, MBOs,
and cytoskeleton
All contain a cell wall Only plant cells contain a cell wall
Contain DNA, RNA, cytoplasm, Contain DNA, RNA, cytoplasm,
ribosomes, and cell membrane (self ribosomes, and cell membrane (self
replicable) replicable)
Prokaryotic Cell Eukaryotic Cell (Animal) Eukaryotic Cell (Plant)
Cell Organelles:
Location and Function
, Organelle Function Prokaryotes? Eukaryotes Eukaryotes
(animal cell)? (plant cell)?
Cytoplasm Environment for Yes Yes Yes
cellular chemical
reactions
RNA Synthesizes Yes Yes Yes
ribosomes
Cell Membrane Transports molecules Yes Yes Yes
into or out of the cell
Ribosome Synthesizes proteins Yes Yes Yes
DNA Stores genetic info Yes Yes Yes
(chromosomes)
Cell Wall External support for Yes No Yes
the cell
Nucleus Makes membrane No Yes Yes
(nuclear components and
envelope) organelles
Golgi apparatus Sorts proteins for No Yes Yes
transport in the cell
Vacuole Storage and support No Yes (regular) Yes (central)
for cell
Lysosome Digestion/breakdown No Yes Yes
of molecules
Vesicle Help with cell No Yes Yes
transport
