eHow launches Android app: Get the best of eHow on the go.
Why Is Phosphorus Essential to Living Things?
What Is the Function of Chlorophyll?
What Is the Role of Protozoans?
What Is the Definition of Metabolism?
What Is the Nitrogen Cycle?
What Is the Equation for Respiration?
Where Does Nitrogen Fixation Occur?
Who Is Gregor Mendel?
When Is a Substance Called a Limiting Nutrient?
Why Does Salt Dissolve in Water?
Why Is Heat a Catalyst?
What Are the Isotopes of Hydrogen?
Where Do the Physical Traits We Inherit Come From?
What Is the Importance of Enzymes?
What Is the Function of Cellulose?
Where Is Cellulose Found?
What Is the Definition of Climate?
Why Is Nitrogen Important for Living Things?
Why Is Carbon Important to Life?
What Is the Energy From Respiration Used For?
What Is the Definition of Genetic Encoding?
What Is the Fuel Used in Respiration?
Where Does Respiration Take Place?
What Is a Sampling Interval?
What Organs Are in the Lower Left Quadrant?
Summary: Phosphorous is an essential component of life because it is a major component of ATP, which is how cells store energy. Learn about the role of phosphorous as an essential component of DNA and RNA with help from a science teacher and field biologist in this free video on biology.
Brian Erickson has a bachelor's degree in biology from Lewis & Clark College, and graduated with honors. During his college career, Erickson earned several awards and scholarships,...read more
"Hi, I'm Brian with ericksontutoring.blogspot.com. Today, we're going to discuss why phosphorus is essential for all living things. First and foremost, in my opinion, phosphorus is essential because it's a major component of ATP. ATP is how cells store energy, and in particular, the energy in ATP comes from some unstable bonds between phosphate molecules. So without that, who knows exactly how cells would be able to store energy. In addition, phosphorus is an essential component of DNA and RNA, and it also is a major component of phospholipids. Phospholipids form cell membranes with their polar heads and non-polar tails, and so without phospholipids, cells would also have to come up with some other way to regulate what comes in and out. So that's my answer to why phosphorus is essential for living things."
eHow Article: Why Is Phosphorus Essential to Living Things?
Copyright © 1999-2009 eHow, Inc. Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the eHow Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. en-US Portions of this page are modifications based on work created and shared by Google and used according to terms described in the Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution License.
