Principles of Biology

Miranda Casturo
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This textbook is designed specifically for Kansas State's Biology 198 Class. The course is taught using the studio approach and based on active learning. The studio manual contains all of the learning objectives for each class period and is the record of all student activities. Hence, this textbook is more of a reference tool while the studio manual is the learning tool. Authors: Robert Bear, David Rintoul, Bruce Snyder, Martha Smith-Caldas, Christopher Herren, and Eva Horne Kansas State University Libraries New Prairie Press Bear, Robert; Rintoul, David; Snyder, Bruce; Smith-Caldas, Martha; Herren, Christopher; and Horne, Eva, "Principles of Biology" (2016). Open Access Textbooks. 1. https://newprairiepress.org/textbooks/1 The textbook was originally published and is also available to download at http://cnx.org/contents/db89c8f8-a27c-4685-ad2a-19d11a2a7e2e@24.1.It is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 license. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/principles-of-biology--5666059/support.

  1. 2d ago

    Active Transport

    The combined gradient that affects an ion includes its concentration gradient and its electrical gradient. Living cells need certain substances in concentrations greater than they exist in the extracellular space. Moving substances up their electrochemical gradients requires energy from the cell. Active transport uses energy stored in ATP to fuel the transport. Active transport of small molecular-size material uses integral proteins in the cell membrane to move the material—these proteins are analogous to pumps. Some pumps, which carry out primary active transport, couple directly with ATP to drive their action. In secondary transport, energy from primary transport can be used to move another substance into the cell and up its concentration gradient.       Endocytosis methods require the direct use of ATP to fuel the transport of large particles such as macromolecules; parts of cells or whole cells can be engulfed by other cells in a process called phagocytosis. In phagocytosis, a portion of the membrane invaginates and flows around the particle, eventually pinching off and leaving the particle wholly enclosed by an envelope of plasma membrane. Vacuoles are broken down by the cell, with the particles used as food or dispatched in some other way. Pinocytosis is a similar process on a smaller scale. The cell expels waste and other particles through the reverse process, exocytosis. Wastes are moved outside the cell, pushing a membranous vesicle to the plasma membrane, allowing the vesicle to fuse with the membrane and incorporating itself into the membrane structure, releasing its contents to the exterior of the cell.             All images referenced in this podcast can be found at             Welcome to Principles of Biology, this podcast will attempt to explain how life works.        The content contained in this podcast was produced by OpenStax and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License.      Access for free at https://openstax.org/details/books/concepts-biology Podcast produced by Miranda Casturo as a Creative Common Sense production.        No part of this podcast is made with generative AI          Voice narration provided by computerized text-to-speech through voicemaker.in        For those who prefer ad free listening other options of support are available at https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/principles-of-biology--5666059/support

  2. 4d ago

    Passive Transport

    The passive forms of transport, diffusion and osmosis, move material of small molecular weight. Substances diffuse from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration, and this process continues until the substance is evenly distributed in a system. In solutions of more than one substance, each type of molecule diffuses according to its own concentration gradient. Many factors can affect the rate of diffusion, including concentration gradient, the sizes of the particles that are diffusing, and the temperature of the system.         In living systems, diffusion of substances into and out of cells is mediated by the plasma membrane. Some materials diffuse readily through the membrane, but others are hindered, and their passage is only made possible by protein channels and carriers. The chemistry of living things occurs in aqueous solutions, and balancing the concentrations of those solutions is an ongoing problem. In living systems, diffusion of some substances would be slow or difficult without membrane proteins.             All images referenced in this podcast can be found at https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/3-5-passive-transport             Welcome to Principles of Biology, this podcast will attempt to explain how life works.        The content contained in this podcast was produced by OpenStax and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License.      Access for free at https://openstax.org/details/books/concepts-biology Podcast produced by Miranda Casturo as a Creative Common Sense production.        No part of this podcast is made with generative AI          Voice narration provided by computerized text-to-speech through voicemaker.in        For those who prefer ad free listening other options of support are available at https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/principles-of-biology--5666059/support

  3. 6d ago

    The Cell Membrane

    The modern understanding of the plasma membrane is referred to as the fluid mosaic model. The plasma membrane is composed of a bilayer of phospholipids, with their hydrophobic, fatty acid tails in contact with each other. The landscape of the membrane is studded with proteins, some of which span the membrane. Some of these proteins serve to transport materials into or out of the cell. Carbohydrates are attached to some of the proteins and lipids on the outward-facing surface of the membrane. These form complexes that function to identify the cell to other cells. The fluid nature of the membrane owes itself to the configuration of the fatty acid tails, the presence of cholesterol embedded in the membrane (in animal cells), and the mosaic nature of the proteins and protein-carbohydrate complexes, which are not firmly fixed in place. Plasma membranes enclose the borders of cells, but rather than being a static bag, they are dynamic and constantly in flux.             All images referenced in this podcast can be found at https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/3-4-the-cell-membrane             Welcome to Principles of Biology, this podcast will attempt to explain how life works.        The content contained in this podcast was produced by OpenStax and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License.      Access for free at https://openstax.org/details/books/concepts-biology Podcast produced by Miranda Casturo as a Creative Common Sense production.        No part of this podcast is made with generative AI          Voice narration provided by computerized text-to-speech through voicemaker.in        For those who prefer ad free listening other options of support are available at https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/principles-of-biology--5666059/support

  4. Oct 16

    Eukaryotic Cells

    Like a prokaryotic cell, a eukaryotic cell has a plasma membrane, cytoplasm, and ribosomes, but a eukaryotic cell is typically larger than a prokaryotic cell, has a true nucleus (meaning its DNA is surrounded by a membrane), and has other membrane-bound organelles that allow for compartmentalization of functions. The plasma membrane is a phospholipid bilayer embedded with proteins. The nucleolus within the nucleus is the site for ribosome assembly. Ribosomes are found in the cytoplasm or are attached to the cytoplasmic side of the plasma membrane or endoplasmic reticulum. They perform protein synthesis. Mitochondria perform cellular respiration and produce ATP. Peroxisomes break down fatty acids, amino acids, and some toxins. Vesicles and vacuoles are storage and transport compartments. In plant cells, vacuoles also help break down macromolecules.     Animal cells also have a centrosome and lysosomes. The centrosome has two bodies, the centrioles, with an unknown role in cell division. Lysosomes are the digestive organelles of animal cells.      Plant cells have a cell wall, chloroplasts, and a central vacuole. The plant cell wall, whose primary component is cellulose, protects the cell, provides structural support, and gives shape to the cell. Photosynthesis takes place in chloroplasts. The central vacuole expands, enlarging the cell without the need to produce more cytoplasm.      The endomembrane system includes the nuclear envelope, the endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, lysosomes, vesicles, as well as the plasma membrane. These cellular components work together to modify, package, tag, and transport membrane lipids and proteins.      The cytoskeleton has three different types of protein elements. Microfilaments provide rigidity and shape to the cell, and facilitate cellular movements. Intermediate filaments bear tension and anchor the nucleus and other organelles in place. Microtubules help the cell resist compression, serve as tracks for motor proteins that move vesicles through the cell, and pull replicated chromosomes to opposite ends of a dividing cell. They are also the structural elements of centrioles, flagella, and cilia.      Animal cells communicate through their extracellular matrices and are connected to each other by tight junctions, desmosomes, and gap junctions. Plant cells are connected and communicate with each other by plasmodesmata.             All images referenced in this podcast can be found at https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/3-3-eukaryotic-cells             Welcome to Principles of Biology, this podcast will attempt to explain how life works.        The content contained in this podcast was produced by OpenStax and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License.      Access for free at https://openstax.org/details/books/concepts-biology Podcast produced by Miranda Casturo as a Creative Common Sense production.        No part of this podcast is made with generative AI          Voice narration provided by computerized text-to-speech through voicemaker.in        For those who prefer ad free listening other options of support are available at https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/principles-of-biology--5666059/support

  5. Oct 14

    Comparing Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells

    Prokaryotes are predominantly single-celled organisms of the domains Bacteria and Archaea. All prokaryotes have plasma membranes, cytoplasm, ribosomes, a cell wall, DNA, and lack membrane-bound organelles. Many also have polysaccharide capsules. Prokaryotic cells range in diameter from 0.1–5.0 µm.         Like a prokaryotic cell, a eukaryotic cell has a plasma membrane, cytoplasm, and ribosomes, but a eukaryotic cell is typically larger than a prokaryotic cell, has a true nucleus (meaning its DNA is surrounded by a membrane), and has other membrane-bound organelles that allow for compartmentalization of functions. Eukaryotic cells tend to be 10 to 100 times the size of prokaryotic cells.             All images referenced in this podcast can be found at https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/3-2-comparing-prokaryotic-and-eukaryotic-cells             Welcome to Principles of Biology, this podcast will attempt to explain how life works.        The content contained in this podcast was produced by OpenStax and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License.      Access for free at https://openstax.org/details/books/concepts-biology Podcast produced by Miranda Casturo as a Creative Common Sense production.        No part of this podcast is made with generative AI          Voice narration provided by computerized text-to-speech through voicemaker.in        For those who prefer ad free listening other options of support are available at https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/principles-of-biology--5666059/support

  6. Oct 12

    How Cells Are Studied

    A cell is the smallest unit of life. Most cells are so small that they cannot be viewed with the naked eye. Therefore, scientists must use microscopes to study cells. Electron microscopes provide higher magnification, higher resolution, and more detail than light microscopes. The unified cell theory states that all organisms are composed of one or more cells, the cell is the basic unit of life, and new cells arise from existing cells.             All images referenced in this podcast can be found at https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/3-1-how-cells-are-studied             Welcome to Principles of Biology, this podcast will attempt to explain how life works.        The content contained in this podcast was produced by OpenStax and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License.      Access for free at https://openstax.org/details/books/concepts-biology Podcast produced by Miranda Casturo as a Creative Common Sense production.        No part of this podcast is made with generative AI          Voice narration provided by computerized text-to-speech through voicemaker.in        For those who prefer ad free listening other options of support are available at https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/principles-of-biology--5666059/support

  7. Oct 9

    Biological Molecules

    Living things are carbon-based because carbon plays such a prominent role in the chemistry of living things. The four covalent bonding positions of the carbon atom can give rise to a wide diversity of compounds with many functions, accounting for the importance of carbon in living things. Carbohydrates are a group of macromolecules that are a vital energy source for the cell, provide structural support to many organisms, and can be found on the surface of the cell as receptors or for cell recognition. Carbohydrates are classified as monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides, depending on the number of monomers in the molecule.        Lipids are a class of macromolecules that are nonpolar and hydrophobic in nature. Major types include fats and oils, waxes, phospholipids, and steroids. Fats and oils are a stored form of energy and can include triglycerides. Fats and oils are usually made up of fatty acids and glycerol.         Proteins are a class of macromolecules that can perform a diverse range of functions for the cell. They help in metabolism by providing structural support and by acting as enzymes, carriers or as hormones. The building blocks of proteins are amino acids. Proteins are organized at four levels: primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary. Protein shape and function are intricately linked; any change in shape caused by changes in temperature, pH, or chemical exposure may lead to protein denaturation and a loss of function.        Nucleic acids are molecules made up of repeating units of nucleotides that direct cellular activities such as cell division and protein synthesis. Each nucleotide is made up of a pentose sugar, a nitrogenous base, and a phosphate group. There are two types of nucleic acids: DNA and RNA.             All images referenced in this podcast can be found at https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/2-3-biological-molecules             Welcome to Principles of Biology, this podcast will attempt to explain how life works.        The content contained in this podcast was produced by OpenStax and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License.      Access for free at https://openstax.org/details/books/concepts-biology Podcast produced by Miranda Casturo as a Creative Common Sense production.        No part of this podcast is made with generative AI          Voice narration provided by computerized text-to-speech through voicemaker.in        For those who prefer ad free listening other options of support are available at https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/principles-of-biology--5666059/support

  8. Oct 7

    Biotechnology in Medicine and Agriculture

    Genetic testing is performed to identify disease-causing genes, and can be used to benefit affected individuals and their relatives who have not developed disease symptoms yet. Gene therapy—by which functioning genes are incorporated into the genomes of individuals with a non-functioning mutant gene—has the potential to cure heritable diseases. Transgenic organisms possess DNA from a different species, usually generated by molecular cloning techniques. Vaccines, antibiotics, and hormones are examples of products obtained by recombinant DNA technology. Transgenic animals have been created for experimental purposes and some are used to produce some human proteins.     Genes are inserted into plants, using plasmids in the bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens, which infects plants. Transgenic plants have been created to improve the characteristics of crop plants—for example, by giving them insect resistance by inserting a gene for a bacterial toxin.             All images referenced in this podcast can be found at https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/10-2-biotechnology-in-medicine-and-agriculture             Welcome to Principles of Biology, this podcast will attempt to explain how life works.        The content contained in this podcast was produced by OpenStax and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License.      Access for free at https://openstax.org/details/books/concepts-biology Podcast produced by Miranda Casturo as a Creative Common Sense production.        No part of this podcast is made with generative AI          Voice narration provided by computerized text-to-speech through voicemaker.in        For those who prefer ad free listening other options of support are available at https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/principles-of-biology--5666059/support

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About

This textbook is designed specifically for Kansas State's Biology 198 Class. The course is taught using the studio approach and based on active learning. The studio manual contains all of the learning objectives for each class period and is the record of all student activities. Hence, this textbook is more of a reference tool while the studio manual is the learning tool. Authors: Robert Bear, David Rintoul, Bruce Snyder, Martha Smith-Caldas, Christopher Herren, and Eva Horne Kansas State University Libraries New Prairie Press Bear, Robert; Rintoul, David; Snyder, Bruce; Smith-Caldas, Martha; Herren, Christopher; and Horne, Eva, "Principles of Biology" (2016). Open Access Textbooks. 1. https://newprairiepress.org/textbooks/1 The textbook was originally published and is also available to download at http://cnx.org/contents/db89c8f8-a27c-4685-ad2a-19d11a2a7e2e@24.1.It is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 license. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/principles-of-biology--5666059/support.

Information

  • Creator
    Miranda Casturo
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    130
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Miranda Casturo
  • Show Website
    Principles of Biology