Biological Molecules and Cellular Structure

Study Notes

Biological Molecules

Biological molecules are the fundamental components of all living organisms.
Four major classes: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
Carbohydrates: Composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Function in energy storage and structural support. Examples include glucose, starch, and cellulose.
Lipids: Hydrophobic molecules, primarily composed of carbon and hydrogen. Crucial for energy storage, insulation, and hormone production. Examples include fats, oils, and phospholipids.
Proteins: Complex molecules built from amino acids. Perform diverse functions like catalysis, transport, and structural support. Examples include enzymes, antibodies, and hormones.
Nucleic acids: Store and transmit genetic information. Composed of nucleotides. DNA and RNA are crucial examples.

Cellular Structure

Cells are the basic units of life.
Prokaryotic cells: Lack a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles. Common in bacteria and archaea.
Eukaryotic cells: Contain a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles. Found in plants, animals, fungi, and protists.
Organelles: Specialized structures within cells performing specific functions. Examples include mitochondria (energy production), ribosomes (protein synthesis), and endoplasmic reticulum (protein and lipid synthesis).
Cell membranes: Regulate the passage of substances into and out of the cell. Made of a phospholipid bilayer.

Cell Processes

Metabolism: Sum of all chemical reactions in a cell. Includes catabolism (breaking down molecules) and anabolism (building up molecules).
Cellular respiration: Process of breaking down glucose to release energy in the form of ATP. Occurs in mitochondria.
Photosynthesis: Process used by plants and other organisms to convert light energy into chemical energy (glucose). Takes place in chloroplasts.
Cell division: Process by which cells reproduce. Includes mitosis (somatic cells) and meiosis (sex cells).
DNA Replication: A crucial process where DNA makes a copy of itself during cell division.
Protein Synthesis: The process of building proteins from amino acids based on instructions encoded in DNA. Involves transcription (DNA to RNA) and translation (RNA to protein).

Genetics

Heredity: Passing of traits from parents to offspring.
Genes: Segments of DNA that code for specific traits.
Chromosomes: Structures containing DNA and proteins that package genes.
Genotype: An organism's genetic makeup.
Phenotype: An organism's observable characteristics.
Mendelian genetics: Fundamental principles of inheritance discovered by Gregor Mendel. Includes concepts of dominant and recessive alleles.

Ecology

Ecology: The study of the relationships between organisms and their environment.
Ecosystems: Communities of organisms interacting with each other and their physical environment.
Biomes: Large-scale communities characterized by specific climate and vegetation. Examples include forests, grasslands, and deserts.
Food webs: Interconnected food chains showing energy flow within an ecosystem.
Population dynamics: Study of how populations change over time. Factors like birth rate, death rate, immigration, and emigration influence population sizes.

Evolution

Evolution: The process of change in heritable characteristics of biological populations over successive generations.
Natural selection: The process where organisms with traits better suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce.
Adaptation: A trait that increases an organism's survival and reproduction in a particular environment.
Speciation: The process by which new species arise.
Common ancestry: The shared evolutionary history of different groups of organisms.

Classification

Taxonomy: The science of classifying and naming organisms.
Hierarchical classification system: Organisms are grouped into increasingly inclusive categories, from species to domain.
Binomial nomenclature: A system for naming species using two names, genus and species.
Phylogeny: The evolutionary history of a group of organisms.
Phylogenetic trees: Diagrams that show evolutionary relationships.

Description

Explore the crucial components of life with this quiz on biological molecules and cellular structure. Learn about carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids, along with the differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Test your knowledge and understand the fundamental building blocks of living organisms.