Dicussion Biology

DISCUSSION BIOLOGY Name Institution Affiliation Instructor Date of Submission What are the 4 biomolecules and what do they have in common? Biomolecules are part of the larger group of organic compounds (Kumar, 2010). This means that they are based on carbon chemistry. Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen are the common elements in these biomolecules. These biomolecules are synthesized by cells and are therefore central in controlling almost all aspects of processes of life. 1. All living organisms have both DNA and RNA. A virus has either DNA or RNA but not both. So what does that tell us about viruses? This tells us that viruses are non-living organisms. According to Villarreal, & Witzany (2010), viruses are however seen as parasites which can only reproduce and thrive in a living host cell. Viruses may behave like living organisms because of their ability to reproduce but this does not mean that they really are because they have the inability to thrive on their own. They need vital components such as proteins which can only be made possible by synthesis through the use of ribosome which can only be found in a living cell. Viruses cannot also generate and store energy, so in order to get this vital component they also have to derive it from the host cell. This is in contrast to a living organism with both RNA and DNA which can carry out the above activities on their own. 2. Compare and contrast the Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic cells. One of the main characteristic is that both Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic cells both have the DNA genetic material. They are also both bound by a membrane and this can be viewed and identified under a laboratory microscope. Their basic metabolism is very similar and both have ribosomes in within their struc...