Animal Lesson 1 Flashcards
(60 cards)
5 core concepts of biology as they relate to animal development and physiology?
- Structure & Function
- Evolution
- System
- Information flow
- Transformation of energy and matter
Structure & Function
Each thing has a specific function. The shape and makeup of biological structures.
Evolution
How these structures appear in animals to pass the genes on to the next generation.
Systems
All structures need to be interconnected in animals bodies.
Information Flow
Can be chemical or electrical. The systems need to communicate with each other somehow.
Transformations of energy and matter
Need energy to function and transfer the energy so we can see it.
What is an animal?
- Multicellular
- Heterotrophic
- Lack cell walls
- Capable of movement at some stage of development
- Possess regulatory genes called Hox Genes
Heterotrophic
Obtains energy and nutrients from other organisms.
Hox genes
They are involved in development. They make the body part. The order they are set up corresponds to the different parts of the body in which they code proteins for.
What are the functions animals need to carry out?
- Reproduction and development.
- Obtain matter and energy and transport it throughout the body.
- Gas exchange between internal and external environments (need O2 for cellular respiration and get rid of CO2).
- Protection from external environment, pathogens. ie. Heat, cold, viruses, bacteria.
- Maintenance of water and solute concentrations in the internal environment.
- Support and movement of the body.
- Coordination of body functions (so we don’t have to think about breathing).
Hierarchical organization of structures
- Molecules
- Organelles (ie. nucleus)
- Cells (ie. cheek cells)
- Tissues
- Organs (ie. heart)
- Organ Systems (ie. digestive system)
- Organisms (ie. dog)
Main molecules
Lipids, Carbs, proteins, nucleic acids.
Tissues
Similar cells held together in some form of matrix (membrane or fibres).
Tissue types
- Epithelial tissue. Line gut, mouth, etc.
- Muscle tissue (ie. cardiac and nervous tissues).
- Connective tissue. A combo of cells and fibres that keeps structure together. (ie. bone and blood).
- Nervous (nerveous cells, glial)
How is structure related to function?
Structure enables function. Structure constrains function.
Structure enables function
A structure’s physical and chemical characteristics
influence its interactions with other structures, and
therefore its function.
Structure constrains function
Functional-trade offs. Specialization for one
function may limit a structure’s ability to perform
another function. It is impossible to optimize
for all parameters (the structure can’t do everything). Through evolution certain features favour one direction, and same in the other.
Functional trade-off example
Cartilage has high flexible and low strength, while bone is low flexible and high strength. Both are connective tissue. ie. If you have a boney body, you’re heavier/stronger but not as flexible. So many fins other structures to do other thinned like float in water.
What membrane would function best in allowing molecules to move between two compartments?
A layer with fewer membranes to travel through and with less space. Narrower and flat is better.
How is evolution related to function of structures?
It’s where function can have an impact on structure. Structure to Function to Fitness through evolutionary pressure, then back to structure. Through natural selection organisms become adapted to their
environment. A better functioning structure for environment might be passes on to the next generation.
Example of Grey Seal
Structures make sense in the context of the animal’s
environment. On land the seal looks like it can’t move very well, but it moves very well in water.
Sponges
Are animals, and have their own version of hox genes that are a bit different.
Biological structures interact to form complex systems?
A change in one component of a network can affect
many other components.
Example of knee injury
Cells: Changes at the molecular and cellular level trigger.
Tissues: Degradation of cartilage to repare it.
Organ: Knee
Organ systems: Musculoskeletal system must compensate.
Organism: Locomotion is compromised. ie. limp.