BIOLOGY IN ACTION
Fall 2014 Semester Project
The Carbon Cycle
“The Circle of Life”
• Brief introduction to the carbon cycle and
what drives the carbon cycle
• Photosynthesis
• Cellular Respiration
• Why do organisms need both processes
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
Characteristics of Life
All living things use energy
Organisms Use Energy – The Carbon Cycle
• Red-tailed Hawks go through the process of
cellular respiration in the carbon cycle.
• What effects do Red-tailed Hawks have on the
carbon cycle?
– The amount of CO2 increases when:
• Equation – C6H12O6 + O2  CO2 + H2O + ATP
• Expending energy while actively hunting prey
• Killing prey
Organisms Use Energy – Obtaining Energy
• How Red-tailed Hawks obtain energy
– Prey: Voles, rabbits, mice, wood rats, snowshoe
hares, jackrabbits, pheasants, bobwhite quail,
snakes
Organisms Use Energy – Rising CO2 Levels
• What possible consequences do increasing global
CO2 levels have on the Red-tailed Hawk’s
macromolecules?
– Carbohydrates –Increasing CO2 levels would increase
production of photosynthesis, thereby increasing
glucose production in autotrophs. That would lead to
greater prey abundance because prey such as rabbits,
voles, and mice are heterotrophs that eat autotrophs.
The extra amount of glucose would allow Red-tailed
Hawks to increase their glycogen capacity. With more
short-term energy storage, their survival would also
increase
Organisms Use Energy – Rising CO2 Levels
Lipids – Increasing prey population due to increasing
CO2 levels would give Red-tailed Hawks more
production of waxes to help preen their feathers to
keep cleaner and healthier. Also, with more fatty
acids, their long-term storage would allow Redtailed Hawks to become more efficient in hunting.
Organisms Use Energy – Rising CO2 Levels
Proteins – Increasing CO2 levels would give rise to
global warming, thereby increase global
temperatures. All organisms, such as Red-tailed
Hawks maintain homeostasis by keeping a constant
internal temperature. Increasing internal
temperature could denature specific enzymes that
would stop the break down specific polysaccharides.
If enzymes are unable to break down
polysaccharides into their monosaccharide form,
Red-tailed Hawks will unable extract energy from
glucose.
Organisms Use Energy – Rising CO2 Levels
– Nucleic Acids – Increasing CO2 levels could mutate
or change the DNA code. If the DNA code is
changed, that will in turn change the type of
protein produced. That possible consequence
could lead to the production of wrong proteins,
thereby creating a deficiency of specific enzymes
needed to break down specific polysaccharides
and fail to extract energy from specific
monosaccharides.
Characteristics of Life
Living Things are Made of Organized Cells
A Red-tailed Hawk Story
Cells - Nucleus
Function: Contains the cell’s hereditary
information and controls the cell’s growth and
reproduction. Regulates protein synthesis.
Every day, I see the same
Red-tailed Hawk perched
on top of a tree overlooking
the bean field. And, when
the Red-tailed Hawk comes
out, all species are fearful.
It’s a type of fear that
controls all the activities
within the immediate
environment.
Analogy: Red-tailed Hawk
Cells – Endoplasmic
Reticulum
Function: Network of
tubules and flattened
sacs forming a
continuous connection
with the nuclear
envelope. Site of many
chemical reactions.
The Red-tailed hawk is scanning the open rows of beans,
acting as tunnels for any species that maybe naive and
thinking they are safe.
Analogy: Rows of bean fields
Cells - Cytoplasm
Function: Semi-fluid material
surrounding organelles, site of many
cellular reactions
No species is safe to the
keen eye of the Red-tailed
hawk. Any species that
may be ground dwelling or
flying in the sky is not safe
within the open
environment.
Analogy: Ground and Sky
Cells – Plasma
Membrane
Function: Selectively
permeable that regulates
the movement of materials
between the cell’s internal
and external environments.
Finally, the Red-tailed hawk takes flight, circling the open field
boundary high in the sky. The Red-tailed hawk is searching
for a meal that may thrive inside the boundary line,
separating the bean field from the dense forest.
Analogy: Open Field Boundary
Cells - Mitochondria
Function: Site of cellular
respiration converting
sugar to ATP.
The Red-tailed hawk is scanning the
environment for any prey that may
give it energy.
Analogy: Prey
Cells - Chloroplast
Function: Site of Photosynthesis
This has been an especially great year for the hawk, because
all the grasses, trees, plants, and even the algae have been
successful in producing an abundance of food for herbivores.
Analogy: All the grasses, trees, plants, and algae
Cells - Ribosomes
Function: Site of protein synthesis
It is due to this photosynthetic success that provides the
parents of the rabbits, voles, and mice to enjoy the extra
amount of glucose, enabling them to increase reproductive
productivity, making more babies!
Analogy: Parents of prey
Cells – Golgi Apparatus
Function: Packaging organelle
that gathers simple molecules and
combines them to make
molecules that are more complex. The Red-tailed hawk is not
searching for newborn babies,
but hunting adults who are
packing on the pounds since
birth, making them a plump
delicious meal!
Analogy: As babies increase
weight and become adults
Cells – Cilia / Flagella
Function: Aid in organism’s movement.
Finally, a fat rabbit catches the eye of the hawk. The Redtailed hawk folds its wings in, creating a death defying
movement towards the rabbit. Success! The Red-tailed Hawk
killed the rabbit with its sharp talons and beak.
Analogy: Wings of the Red-tailed Hawk
Cells - Vacuoles
Function: Temporary
storage of water,
waste, and nutrients.
Because of the overabundance of prey, the hawk is able to
store the rabbit in its nest for a future meal later in the day.
Analogy: Nest and pond
Cells - Lysosomes
Function: Organelle that contain digestive enzymes that
break down waste, worn-out organelles, food, and engulf
viruses
After the hawk finishes eating the rabbit,
the hawk discards the dead carcass out of
the nest and onto the ground. The skin
and bones of the rabbit has no further use
for the hawk, and the decomposers take
over to remove the left overs out of the
environment.
Analogy: Decomposers
Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus)
Characteristics of Life
All living things use energy
Organisms Use Energy
• Monarch Butterflies go through the process of
cellular respiration in the carbon cycle.
• What effects do Monarch butterflies have on
the carbon cycle?
– The amount of CO2 increases when:
• Equation – C6H12O6 + O2  CO2 + H2O + ATP
Organisms Use Energy
• How Monarch Butterflies obtain energy
– Prey:
Organisms Use Energy
• What possible consequences do increasing
global CO2 levels have on the Monarch
Butterfly’s macromolecules?
– Carbohydrates –
Organisms Use Energy
• What possible consequences do increasing
global CO2 levels have on the Monarch
Butterfly’s macromolecules?
– Lipids –
Organisms Use Energy
• What possible consequences do increasing
global CO2 levels have on the Monarch
Butterfly’s macromolecules?
– Proteins –
Organisms Use Energy
• What possible consequences do increasing
global CO2 levels have on the Monarch
Butterfly’s macromolecules?
– Nucleic Acids –
Characteristics of Life
Living Things are Made of Organized Cells
A Monarch Butterfly Story
Cells - Nucleus
Function: Contains the cell’s hereditary information and controls
the cell’s growth and reproduction. Regulates protein synthesis.
Sentences:
Analogy:
Cells – Plasma
Membrane
Function: Selectively
permeable that regulates
the movement of materials
between the cell’s internal
and external environments.
Sentences:
Analogy:
Cells - Ribosomes
Function: Site of protein synthesis
Sentences:
Analogy:
Cells - Cytoplasm
Function: Semi-fluid material
surrounding organelles, site of many
cellular reactions
Sentences:
Analogy:
Cells – Endoplasmic
Reticulum
Function: Network of
tubules and flattened
sacs forming a
continuous connection
with the nuclear
envelope. Site of many
chemical reactions.
Sentences:
Analogy:
Cells – Golgi Apparatus
Function: Packaging organelle that gathers simple molecules
and combines them to make molecules that are more
complex.
Sentences:
Analogy:
Cells - Vacuoles
Function: Temporary
storage of water,
waste, and nutrients.
Sentences:
Analogy:
Cells - Lysosomes
Function: Organelle
that contain digestive
enzymes that break
down waste, worn-out
organelles, food, and
engulf viruses
Sentences:
Analogy:
Cells - Mitochondria
Function: Site of
cellular respiration.
Sentences:
Analogy:
Cells - Chloroplast
Function: Site of Photosynthesis
Sentences:
Analogy:
Cells – Cilia / Flagella
Function: Aid in organism’s movement.
Sentences:
Analogy:
Soybean (Glycine max)
Characteristics of Life
All living things use energy
Organisms Use Energy
• Soybeans go through the processes of
photosynthesis and cellular respiration in the
carbon cycle.
• What effects do soybeans have on the carbon
cycle?
– The amount of CO2 increases when:
• Equation – C6H12O6 + O2  CO2 + H2O + ATP
– The amount of CO2 decreases when:
• Equation – CO2 + H2O + Sunlight  C6H12O6 + O2
Organisms Use Energy
• How soybeans obtain energy
– Soybeans convert solar radiate energy into
chemical energy such as glucose through the
process of photosynthesis.
– Soybeans then use the production of glucose for
maintenance and growth through the process of
cellular respiration.
Organisms Use Energy
• What possible consequences do increasing
global CO2 levels have on soybean’s
macromolecules?
– Carbohydrates –
Organisms Use Energy
• What possible consequences do increasing
global CO2 levels have on soybean’s
macromolecules?
– Lipids –
Organisms Use Energy
• What possible consequences do increasing
global CO2 levels have on soybean’s
macromolecules?
– Proteins –
Organisms Use Energy
• What possible consequences do increasing
global CO2 levels have on soybean’s
macromolecules?
– Nucleic Acids –
Characteristics of Life
Living Things are Made of Organized Cells
A Soybean Story
Cells - Nucleus
Function: Contains the cell’s hereditary information and controls
the cell’s growth and reproduction. Regulates protein synthesis.
Sentences:
Analogy:
Cells – Plasma
Membrane
Function: Selectively
permeable that regulates
the movement of materials
between the cell’s internal
and external environments.
Sentences:
Analogy:
Cells - Ribosomes
Function: Site of protein synthesis
Sentences:
Analogy:
Cells - Cytoplasm
Function: Semi-fluid material
surrounding organelles, site of many
cellular reactions
Sentences:
Analogy:
Cells – Endoplasmic
Reticulum
Function: Network of
tubules and flattened
sacs forming a
continuous connection
with the nuclear
envelope. Site of many
chemical reactions.
Sentences:
Analogy:
Cells – Golgi Apparatus
Function: Packaging organelle that gathers simple molecules
and combines them to make molecules that are more
complex.
Sentences:
Analogy:
Cells - Vacuoles
Function: Temporary
storage of water,
waste, and nutrients.
Sentences:
Analogy:
Cells - Lysosomes
Function: Organelle
that contain digestive
enzymes that break
down waste, worn-out
organelles, food, and
engulf viruses
Sentences:
Analogy:
Cells - Mitochondria
Function: Site of
cellular respiration.
Sentences:
Analogy:
Cells - Chloroplast
Function: Site of Photosynthesis
Sentences:
Analogy:
Cells – Cilia / Flagella
Function: Aid in organism’s movement.
Sentences:
Analogy:
Non-Living Things
• What makes something, non-living?
• In order for something to be considered living,
it must contain all six characteristics of life:
– Made of organized cells
The Sun
Cumulonimbus Clouds
Marble
Methane
Chickenpox
(varicella)
Fire