VIDA E CARACTERÍSTICAS GERAIS DOS SERES VIVOS (PROVA, VESTIBULAR, ENEM) - OLHAR QUÍMICO |PROF. ROMEU

Summary

In this lesson, Professor Romeu explains the essential characteristics that define living beings. These include the vital cycle (birth, growth, reproduction, and death), cellular organization (unicellular and multicellular organisms), chemical composition (organic and inorganic substances), metabolism (anabolism and catabolism), reproduction (asexual and sexual), irritability (response to stimuli), homeostasis (maintaining internal balance), and evolution (mutations and natural selection). The professor emphasizes how these properties are fundamental in understanding life and encourages further learning through additional resources available on his website.

Takeaways

• 😀 Living beings go through a vital cycle: birth, growth, reproduction, and death, though not all organisms complete all stages.
• 😀 Organisms can be unicellular (like bacteria) or multicellular (like plants and animals), and cells are the basic units of life.
• 😀 Cells contain both organic (DNA, RNA, proteins) and inorganic substances (water, salts) essential for their function.
• 😀 Autotrophic organisms (like plants) make their own food through processes like photosynthesis, while heterotrophic organisms (like animals) must consume food.
• 😀 Metabolism involves all chemical reactions in organisms, including anabolic (building molecules) and catabolic (breaking molecules for energy) processes.
• 😀 Reproduction can be asexual (producing genetically identical clones) or sexual (involving genetic exchange between two individuals).
• 😀 All living beings have irritability, the ability to respond to environmental changes (e.g., plants growing towards light or pupils adjusting to light).
• 😀 Evolution is a slow process of genetic change in populations, driven by mutations and natural selection.
• 😀 Eukaryotic cells have a defined nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, while prokaryotic cells lack these features.
• 😀 Homeostasis is the maintenance of a stable internal environment in organisms, despite external changes, ensuring proper functioning.

Q & A

What are the five stages of the life cycle of a living organism?

The five stages are birth, growth, development, reproduction, and death. However, not all organisms go through all five stages.

What is the difference between unicellular and multicellular organisms?

Unicellular organisms consist of a single cell, like bacteria and amoebas, while multicellular organisms are made up of multiple cells, such as plants and animals.

What are the characteristics of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells?

Prokaryotic cells lack a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, with their genetic material scattered in the cytoplasm. Eukaryotic cells, on the other hand, have a defined nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.

What substances are found in the chemical composition of cells?

Cells contain both organic substances (such as DNA, RNA, carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids) and inorganic substances (like water and salts).

What is the difference between autotrophic and heterotrophic nutrition?

Autotrophic organisms, such as plants and algae, produce their own food (e.g., through photosynthesis). Heterotrophic organisms, such as animals and fungi, rely on consuming other organisms for food.

What is metabolism, and what are its two types?

Metabolism refers to all the chemical reactions in an organism. The two types are anabolism (building complex molecules from simpler ones) and catabolism (breaking down complex molecules into simpler ones).

Can you explain the difference between asexual and sexual reproduction?

Asexual reproduction involves a single organism producing genetically identical offspring (clones), while sexual reproduction involves two organisms contributing genetic material, resulting in genetically diverse offspring.

What is irritability in living organisms?

Irritability refers to the ability of organisms to respond to environmental changes. For example, plants may grow toward light (phototropism), or animals' pupils may adjust to light intensity.

What is homeostasis, and why is it important?

Homeostasis is the ability of an organism to maintain a stable internal environment despite external changes. It is crucial for survival, as it helps organisms maintain optimal conditions for cellular functions.

How does evolution contribute to the development of species?

Evolution involves changes in populations over time, driven by mutations and natural selection. This process leads to the adaptation of species to their environment and helps explain the emergence of new species.