lesson 1. what is life?

what is the basic structure of a protein?

complexly coiled and folded chains, 3- dimensional shapes

what is the purpose of DNA?

contains a set of instructions explaining how to make different kinds of proteins

why are we generally unaware of the fact that trillions of individuals living cells make up our own bodies?

they're so small and so many of them.

approximately how many different types of proteins exist?

thousands of different kinds

what does reproduction have to do with DNA?

using DNA to create a new individual

what's the difference between a single-celled organism and a multi celled organism?

single - celled : a living thing consisting of only one cell. multi-celled : a living thing made up many cells working together in huge colony.

what determines the function of a specific protein in an organism?

the shape of the protein

about how many cells are in your 'colony'?

10 to 100 trillion cells

approximately how many genes are in a human genome?

10,000 to 30,000 genes.

approximately how many different proteins does a human being make?

10,000 to 30,000 proteins

what is the difference between a gene and a genome, and how do they both relate to DNA?

gene - a set of instructions that tells how to make one specific protein, written in the language of DNA. Genome - a complete set of instructions for making all of the proteins of one individual organism. made up of DNA.

explain 2 purposes of a cell membrane?

keeps the cell together and acts as a filter.

where do proteins come from, and what relationship do they have to DNA?

living things make them. DNA are the instructions to make protein.

what is homeostasis, and why must living things maintain it?

maintian an internal environment that stays largely the same. proteins will die thus causing organism to die.

explain 2 purposes of a cell wall.

protect the membrane and maintain the cell