Theme 5: RELATIONSHIP OF STRUCTURE & FUNCTION
Explanation: The structural levels from molecules to organisms ensure successful functioning in all living organisms and living systems.
Clarification: You would post here examples of structure-function relationships in living organisms. How specific molecules, organelles, cells, tissues, organs, and body structures are structured to support the functions that they perform. (Don't forget plants!)
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EVOLUTION: adaptations of bones (honeycomb structure of bird bones) makes it more efficient for them to fly.
CELLS: Lysosomal enzymes are digestive enzymes which work best at pH of 5 which is maintained in the membrance bound lysosome. The pH of the cytosol is neutral. The digestive enzymes only work at a low pH which is a safety precaution for the cell. If enzymes were to leak into the cytosol then they wouldn't be able to function. The proteins would denature at the different pH level. If the enzymes would work then the whole cell would be digested and would not be able to perform its function.
This is seen in long-necked giraffes. The food source of giraffes is often high in trees and it is more efficient for giraffes to have taller necks. The giraffes who had tall necks(by chance not choice) were able to survive better and reproduce more successfully because they were able to obtain there food more efficiently. The giraffes without the taller necks were not as able to successfully reproduce as the taller necked giraffes. The giraffe did not stretch its neck out to be able to reach for food and then pass on that trait, it was only the giraffes who by chance had a longer neck that was able to survive and reproduce.
Biochemistry: The structure of DNA. the base pairs from each side of the helix (i.e. A+T) are held together through hydrogen bonds.
A and T are connected by two hydrogen bonds. G and C are connected by three hydrogen bonds.
These hydrogen bonds are weak, unlike the "phosphodiester" bonds holding the backbone together, thus it can be easily separated for replication of the DNA strand.
Angiosperm flowers are brightly colored with color variation to attract pollinatros. When other organisms become attracted to the modified leaves, they move closer to plant wanting nectar and receive a shot of pollen. The pollen is tough on the surface so it can easily stick to the pollinator and can survive on dry land.
BIOCHEMISTRY: an example of a structure function relationship would be the different digestive systems of organisms and how it determines their lifestyle. For example a herbivores digestive system is differently organized than a carnivores, enabling herbivores to digest cellulose(most abundant organic compound on earth) made of roughage which is hard to digest material. While most carnivores digestive systems disables them to digest cellulose which is why they eat meat to get their energy and nutrients.
The amino acid sequence determines the function of the protein. The size of the protein does not matter, shape matters. The shape the protein is folded into determines its function. There are only 20 amino acids but the arrangement of the acids determines the shape and function of the protein.
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