SCI 115 Week 2 Discussion STR

Biochemistry & Structure of Living Cells.

Select one of the following discussion topics for your primary post, which should address the discussion question in your own words. Your primary post should be at least 125 words. Also, please respond to a fellow student on any topic.

Topic 1: Internet Research on Carl Woese. Carl Woese (1928-2012) worked out a new method for classifying organisms. Research his activities on the internet, and then address issues (a), (b) and (c), that are given below, and cite your source(s).

• (a) Carl Woese used ribosomal RNA (rRNA) to look at relatedness between organisms. Describe the basic logic of this approach. How can you tell if two organisms are closely related or distantly related from their rRNA?
• (b) Name one of Woese’s most important findings.
• (c) Describe one way that this relates to this week’s lesson.
• Don’t forget to cite your source or sources.

Topic 2: Chemicals of Life Video. Watch Dr. Cox’s video on the “Chemicals of Life” (1)* in the “Instructor Insights” area of Week 2. Then, answer questions (a) and (b).

• (a) Describe three things you learned from this video.
• (b) Describe at least one way that this video relates to this week’s lesson.
• 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.

Topic 3: Lokiarchaeum Article. 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. Address issues (a), (b) and (c), that are given below, and cite your source(s)

• (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.
• Cite whichever article you use. If you use both, cite them both. There’s no particular reason why you should need any other source, but if you do use any other source, you must cite it, too.

*References:

1. James Cox, 2016, The chemicals of life – revised, see “Instructor Insights” (Week 2) or Media Gallery in this course shell.

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