The Cell, Lokiarcharum, and the Chemicals of Life”

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posted 8 years ago (last edited 2 months ago)Anonymous Week 2 DiscussionCOLLAPSEOverall Rating:

“The Cell, Lokiarcharum, and the Chemicals of Life”

This week is all about the some of the smallest parts of life: atoms, molecules, and cells. For your primary post, please respond to one of the following two topics and address all questions. Also, reply to at least one fellow student on any topic.

Topic 1

: Introduction to the Cell. Watch the Khan Academy video “Introduction to the cell” (1)* and then address the following issues.

  • (a) In the video, the narrator says that we might think that since cells are so small, that they must be simple, but “nothing could be further from the truth.” What did he mean by that?
  • (b) Describe features that are only found in eukaryotic (but not prokaryotic) cells.
  • (c) Did anything in this video surprise you, or was it mainly a recap of material you already knew?

Topic 2 [article]: Lokiarchaeum. Read about Lokiarcheum in the article by Yong (2)* and/or the article by Zimmer (3)*. Both articles describe recently discovered evidence about a previously unknown organism. Then, address the following questions:

  • (a) Lokiarchaeum may be a “transitional form” between archaea and eukarya. What evidence suggests this?
  • (b) Describe one way that this relates to this week’s lesson.

Topic 3

: Chemicals of Life Video. (added on 1/8/2018)  Watch Dr. Cox’s video on the “Chemicals of Life” (4)* in the “Instructor Insights” area of Week 2. Then, describe three things you learned from this video.

Note:  To get credit for this topic, your post must be based on the video. Answers based on other materials will receive a grade of zero.

References (in Strayer Writing Standards format).

  1. Khan Academy, November 29, 2017. Introduction to the cell,  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KfHxF6Vhps
  2. Ed Yong, May 6, 2015. New Loki microbe is closest relative to all complex life, http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/2015/05/06/new-loki-microbe-is-closest-relative-to-all-complex-life/
  3. Carl Zimmer, May 6, 2015, Under the sea, a missing link in the evolution of complex cells,http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/07/science/under-the-sea-a-missing-link-in-the-evolution-of-complex-cells.html?_r=0
  4. James Cox, July 12, 2016, The Chemicals of Life (revised). Kaltura video found in Week 2 – Instructor Insights section.
 
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