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We’ve created this site for those who love Life and view It as a miracle, as a major part of this generous Universe and its greatest achievement. There’s no unanimously accepted definition for Life, as if nobody could catch the essence of it. People who try to decipher Its secrets are amazed at Its complexity and simplicity - diversity and unity, at the same time. Life per se is so perfect, as if a benevolent superior Force created It and set It on this planet. As if the entire Universe might have “conspired” to produce It.
Where does Life begin? Most scholars would say Life begins with the cell. Bacteria, protists, fungi, plants and animals are very different but still made of cells – the basic unit of structure and function in all living organisms. These cells range a great variety in: shape, structure, chemical content, physiological role. In some cases one cell stands for one organism (e.g. bacteria, some protists), in other cases numerous cells compose an organism (fungi, plants, animals).
Despite its huge diversity, the living world acts as a whole, all organisms being strongly connected to each other. Some living beings need just minerals (CO2) and one energy source (light or chemical energy) in order to produce organic matter and thus, feed themselves. They are called autotrophic organisms or autotrophs and are represented by some bacteria, some protists (algae) and the green plants. Autotrophs are the producers in food chains.
Other organisms are not able to use directly energy and minerals (CO2) in order to synthesize their food, which means they cannot convert mineral compounds into organic ones. Therefore, such living beings feed on the organic matter produced by the autotrophs, and are called heterotrophic organism or heterotrophs. All animals are heterotrophs, as well as fungi, some protists and many monerae (bacteria). In food chains, they are the consumers. Finally, the decomposers (bacteria and fungi) which feed on dead organic matter, release the minerals requested by the producers and close the cycle.
For centuries, scientists have tried to identify and name the living beings, and then classify them. They concluded that every organism belongs to a species - the basic rank of scientific taxonomy, and must have a latin name, so that people across the world could recognize it. For instance, Homo sapiens is the scientific name for man (it means “wise man” in latin). The concept of species has evolved in time, due to new descoveries in the field of molecular biology. Living organisms belonging to one species not only look alike, are capable of interbreeding and produce fertile offspring, but also share common DNA. At the same time, biochemistry and molecular genetics took over morphology in classification, and proved for exemple that fungi are more related to animals than plants.
The total number of species on Earth both identified and unidentified is thought to be around 100 milion, ranging an amazing variety. Unfortunately man is wiping out these species at a terrible rate, destroying them directly and compromising their habitats. He sees himself as a master and acts like an enemy, forgetting about his place in nature and his duty. This is an image we all want to wipe off.
Our goal is to generate a world where people learn the basics without being biologists, share their knowledge with others and become aware of their meaning on Earth – to preserve Life. How could we defend something we don’t love and how could we love something we don’t respect? Life is a cosmic reality and we are a part of It!