Living organisms water stress

The different facets of water-micromolecule-macromolecule interactions discussed up to this point involve several of the most important ways in which water has shaped the characteristics of living systems and the ways in which the internal milieu is defended in the face of water stress. Because of water s pervasive influence on the evolution of virtually all properties of organisms, there are many other imprints of water on biological design that remain to be discussed. Below, we present in somewhat abbreviated manner several of these issues. This discussion will help us to understand more clearly how water establishes the boundary conditions for life and dictates many of the engineering principles that are found in the designs of cells. Of particular importance is the issue of packaging how to accommodate tens of thousands of chemical systems in a minute volume of water. 

Part 3 Responses to Water Stress in Living Organisms Related New Potential Technologies... 

The subject of "Responses to Water Stress in Living Organisms Related New Potential Technologies" was discussed in Session IV, in which Dr. Yrjo Roos acted as chairman. The corresponding conferences were included in Chapters 10 to 13. 

A novel integration between microelectronic devices and living organisms for electrochemical detection of toxicity in water has been demonstrated. The electrochemical Lab on a chip provides rapid and sensitive real-time electrochemical detection of acute toxicity in water. A clear signal is produced within less than 10 min of exposure to various concentrations of toxicants, or stress conditions, with a direct correlation between the toxicant concentration and the induced current. During measurement period the bacteria remained active and were capable of performing cellular gene expression and enzymatic activity, which demonstrate the chip biocompatibility. 

Some of these compounds, because of their high lipophilicity, accumulate in animal tissues, particularly in predators occupying the top of the food chains. In addition, they may be dispersed over great distances by winds and water currents. These chemicals can also affect the ability of living organisms to reproduce, to develop, and to withstand the many other stress factors in their environment, by depressing their nervous, endocrine, and/or immune systems. 

The intention of the authorities, with the restriction of chemical leaking paints was to reduce the release of toxic substances to the sensitive productive coastal areas (Kemi 1998a). The Baltic Sea is considered an environmentally sensitive area, which later was acknowledged internationally by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO 2005) and classified as a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSS A) in 2004 (IMO 2005). This was based on its unique environment, with low salinity and low biodiversity. Also, the Baltic Sea is in an evolutionary perspective a young sea and the organisms live in a very stressful environment, as they have not had time to fully adapt to the brackish water conditions (Kautsky and Tedengren 1992 Ryden et al. 2003). 

Salinity, the level of dissolved minerals in water, has a tremendous impact on the kinds of organisms that can live in a coastal habitat because it affects how materials move into and out of cells. Most coastal organisms are exposed to varying salinity due to input or removal of water. Levels of dissolved gases in the intertidal water can also vary. Organisms that require oxygen can be stressed if levels of the gas drop radically. The temperature of shallow coastal water can fluctuate... 

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