A living organism’s cellularity, ability to respond to its environment, metabolize, reproduce, and evolve are what differentiates it from the nonliving. All living organisms have a membrane separating their internal environment from their external environment, allowing them to compartmentalize. These enclosed areas are known as “cells”. Some organisms consist of only one cell that contains all the necessary structures to function as a living organism, while others may be composed of multiple cells with their own specific functions working together. The membrane is composed of two layers of phospholipids, or a phospholipid bilayer. Phospholipid molecules are aligned so that the hydrophobic “tails” of the phospholipids of each layer are faced
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This process of maintaining an equilibrium within the organism is known as homeostasis. Receptors help sense when a cell is not in its preferred conditions and alert the cell through signals in the form of chemical messengers. Regulation of internal temperature is an important function of living organisms, as temperatures that are too high would denature essential proteins and temperatures that are too low could inhibit enzymes. Humans sweat to lower their internal temperature and shiver to raise it. However, there are also living organisms that do not regulate heat this way, but the excess or deficiency of heat still induces behaviors such as finding the where they can receive or transfer heat that allow the organism to try and counteract the extreme environmental …show more content…
Certain errors may be made during the process of replication as the cell copies its genetic material, or damage may have been done from other chemical reactions in the cell, such as hydrolysis, that was not properly repaired before the cell starts copying the genetic code. These mutations are then passed on to the newly divided cells. The amino acids coded for by the DNA are potentially altered, changing certain functions and features. If this change is more favorable for the cell in its current environment, such as physical features for improved camouflage or different enzyme structures that allow greater efficiency for energy production, the probability of the cell surviving and passing on the modified genetic material is higher. Over a long period of time, the surviving organisms in future generations will likely have modified genetic material, resulting in a change in the genetic makeup of that particular type of organism. Even without mutations, the overall genetic makeup in a group of organisms may change due to changes in the environment, as a certain set of existing traits may now be more favorable for survival and reproduction in the new environment than others. Nonliving materials are typically static in their functions and progression of their reactions to external
This process of maintaining an equilibrium within the organism is known as homeostasis. Receptors help sense when a cell is not in its preferred conditions and alert the cell through signals in the form of chemical messengers. Regulation of internal temperature is an important function of living organisms, as temperatures that are too high would denature essential proteins and temperatures that are too low could inhibit enzymes. Humans sweat to lower their internal temperature and shiver to raise it. However, there are also living organisms that do not regulate heat this way, but the excess or deficiency of heat still induces behaviors such as finding the where they can receive or transfer heat that allow the organism to try and counteract the extreme environmental …show more content…
Certain errors may be made during the process of replication as the cell copies its genetic material, or damage may have been done from other chemical reactions in the cell, such as hydrolysis, that was not properly repaired before the cell starts copying the genetic code. These mutations are then passed on to the newly divided cells. The amino acids coded for by the DNA are potentially altered, changing certain functions and features. If this change is more favorable for the cell in its current environment, such as physical features for improved camouflage or different enzyme structures that allow greater efficiency for energy production, the probability of the cell surviving and passing on the modified genetic material is higher. Over a long period of time, the surviving organisms in future generations will likely have modified genetic material, resulting in a change in the genetic makeup of that particular type of organism. Even without mutations, the overall genetic makeup in a group of organisms may change due to changes in the environment, as a certain set of existing traits may now be more favorable for survival and reproduction in the new environment than others. Nonliving materials are typically static in their functions and progression of their reactions to external