The importance of water for life

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the critical role of water in sustaining life on Earth, emphasizing its properties as a universal solvent and its ability to moderate temperature. Key resources include articles from Harvard and Khan Academy, which outline water's biological roles. The conversation also touches on cellular processes like exocytosis and endocytosis, highlighting how water facilitates the transport of nutrients and wastes, which can be both solid and liquid. Understanding these concepts is essential for grasping the biochemical processes that underpin life.

PREREQUISITES
  • Basic understanding of cellular biology, specifically exocytosis and endocytosis.
  • Familiarity with the properties of water, including its role as a solvent.
  • Knowledge of the Golgi apparatus and its function in cellular secretion.
  • Concept of Brownian motion and its relevance to particle suspension in fluids.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the role of water in biochemical reactions and cellular processes.
  • Explore the mechanisms of exocytosis and endocytosis in detail.
  • Study the properties of hydrophilic and hydrophobic substances in biological systems.
  • Investigate the impact of temperature regulation by water on living organisms.
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for biology educators, students in introductory Earth science courses, and anyone interested in the biochemical significance of water in life processes.

curious_ocean
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Hi PF,
I'm teaching a college level introductory course about planet Earth and we are briefly discussing the importance of water for life. This is not covered in our textbook but I thought it was important to cover.

I found some good resources:
https://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/uncate...les-of-water-why-is-water-necessary-for-life/
https://www.khanacademy.org/science...d-hydrogen-bonding/a/hs-water-and-life-review
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/wm-nmbiology1/chapter/why-life-depends-on-water/

and I also found this in an online class about Oceanography:
"All life on Earth requires liquid water because water is a fantastic solvent; in fact, it is often called the universal solvent.

In addition, water has a phenomenal property of retaining heat and moderating temperature, so it is important for organisms to manage the heat within their structures.
Water also can suspend solids, so it can suspend wastes and nutrients and allow you to expel them from your cellular structure."

Can someone explain further what that last statement is about? Are wastes and nutrients necessarily solids? Is this a reference to the undissolved things that water can transport? (Hydrophobic substances vs. Hydrophilic?)

Thanks for your help!
 
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I assume is referring to exocytosis - the process of moving waste out of a vacuole through the cell membrane and out into the surrounding medium. Molecules that do not pass through cells easily are sometimes accompanied by lipoproteins, which expedite things. Golgi bodies are active in secretion as well.

Wastes are not always solids.

You probably have shown students Brownian motion, which is a kind of "suspension" -- if that is what you are asking.

exocytosis and endocytosis -- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4880020/
Golgi apparatus -- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK9838/
 
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Thank you jim mcnamara! Is there are particular property of water that makes it special to be able to contribute to exocytosis/endocytosis?
 

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