Biology Basics

Branches of Biology

• Botany: study of plants
• Zoology: study of animals
• Microbiology: study of microorganisms
• Ecology: study of interactions between organisms and their environment
• Genetics: study of heredity and variation
• Molecular Biology: study of biological molecules and their interactions
• Biochemistry: study of chemical processes in living organisms

Cells

• Basic unit of life
• Components:
  • Cell membrane: outer layer that separates cell from environment
  • Cytoplasm: jelly-like substance inside cell membrane
  • Nucleus: contains genetic material (DNA)
  • Mitochondria: generate energy for cell
  • Ribosomes: site of protein synthesis

Biomolecules

• Carbohydrates:
  • Monosaccharides (e.g. glucose)
  • Disaccharides (e.g. sucrose)
  • Polysaccharides (e.g. cellulose)
• Proteins:
  • Amino acid building blocks
  • Primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures
• Lipids:
  • Fats and oils
  • Phospholipids (part of cell membrane)
• Nucleic Acids:
  • DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)
  • RNA (ribonucleic acid)

Biological Processes

• Photosynthesis: process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy
• Respiration: process by which cells generate energy from glucose
• Mitosis: process of cell division that results in two daughter cells
• Meiosis: process of cell division that results in four gamete cells
• Evolution: process of change in species over time

Ecosystems

• Producers: organisms that produce their own food (e.g. plants)
• Consumers: organisms that obtain energy by consuming other organisms
• Decomposers: organisms that break down organic matter
• Food Chains: series of organisms that eat other organisms
• Food Webs: complex networks of food chains

Branches of Biology

• Botany is the study of plants
• Zoology is the study of animals
• Microbiology is the study of microorganisms
• Ecology is the study of interactions between organisms and their environment
• Genetics is the study of heredity and variation
• Molecular Biology is the study of biological molecules and their interactions
• Biochemistry is the study of chemical processes in living organisms

Cells

• Cells are the basic unit of life
• Cell membrane is the outer layer that separates the cell from the environment
• Cytoplasm is a jelly-like substance inside the cell membrane
• Nucleus contains genetic material (DNA)
• Mitochondria generate energy for the cell
• Ribosomes are the site of protein synthesis

Biomolecules

• Carbohydrates include monosaccharides (e.g. glucose), disaccharides (e.g. sucrose), and polysaccharides (e.g. cellulose)
• Proteins are made up of amino acid building blocks and have primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures
• Lipids include fats and oils, and phospholipids are part of the cell membrane
• Nucleic Acids include DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid)

Biological Processes

• Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy
• Respiration is the process by which cells generate energy from glucose
• Mitosis is the process of cell division that results in two daughter cells
• Meiosis is the process of cell division that results in four gamete cells
• Evolution is the process of change in species over time

Ecosystems

• Producers are organisms that produce their own food (e.g. plants)
• Consumers are organisms that obtain energy by consuming other organisms
• Decomposers are organisms that break down organic matter
• Food Chains are series of organisms that eat other organisms
• Food Webs are complex networks of food chains

Ecology Definition

• Ecology is the study of relationships between living organisms (biotic factors) and their environment (abiotic factors).

Key Concepts

• An ecosystem consists of interacting living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components in a specific environment.
• Biotic factors include plants, animals, and microorganisms.
• Abiotic factors include light, temperature, water, and soil.

Ecosystem Components

Producers

• Organisms that produce their own food through photosynthesis, such as plants and algae.

Consumers

• Organisms that obtain energy by consuming other organisms, including herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores.

Decomposers

• Organisms that break down dead organic matter, including bacteria and fungi.

Ecological Interactions

Predation

• Interaction between a predator and its prey.

Competition

• Interaction between individuals or species competing for the same resources.

Symbiosis

• Interaction between two or more species living in close proximity, including mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism.

Ecological Levels

Individual

• A single organism.

Population

• A group of individuals of the same species living in a specific area.

Community

• A group of different species living in a specific area.

Ecosystem

• A community of living and non-living components interacting with each other in a specific environment.

Biosphere

• The global sum of all ecosystems on Earth.

Ecological Principles

Energy Flow

• Energy flows through an ecosystem from producers to consumers and decomposers.

Nutrient Cycling

• Nutrients are recycled through an ecosystem through decomposition and reuse.

Carrying Capacity

• The maximum number of individuals that an ecosystem can support.