Biology Basics

Study Notes

Biology is the scientific study of life and living organisms
It explores the structure, function, growth, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy of all living things
Biology is a diverse field that includes various disciplines such as botany, zoology, microbiology, ecology, and biochemistry

Botany: study of plants and their interactions
Zoology: study of animals and their interactions
Microbiology: study of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and protists
Ecology: study of the relationships between organisms and their environment
Biochemistry: study of the chemical processes that occur within living organisms
Molecular Biology: study of the structure, function, and interactions of biological molecules
Genetics: study of heredity, genes, and variation in organisms
Evolutionary Biology: study of the processes that have shaped the diversity of life on Earth

Cells are the basic units of life
Cell structure: plasma membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus, mitochondria, ribosomes, etc.
Cell functions: metabolism, growth, division, response to stimuli, etc.
Cellular processes: photosynthesis, respiration, mitosis, meiosis, etc.

Gregor Mendel's laws of inheritance: segregation, independent assortment, dominance, and recessiveness
DNA structure and replication
Gene expression and regulation
Mutation, genetic drift, gene flow, and natural selection
Speciation and phylogeny

Biology is the scientific study of life and living organisms, exploring their structure, function, growth, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy
It is a diverse field that includes various disciplines such as botany, zoology, microbiology, ecology, and biochemistry

Botany studies plants and their interactions
Zoology studies animals and their interactions
Microbiology studies microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and protists
Ecology studies the relationships between organisms and their environment
Biochemistry studies the chemical processes that occur within living organisms
Molecular Biology studies the structure, function, and interactions of biological molecules
Genetics studies heredity, genes, and variation in organisms
Evolutionary Biology studies the processes that have shaped the diversity of life on Earth

Cells are the basic units of life
Cell structure consists of plasma membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus, mitochondria, ribosomes, etc
Cell functions include metabolism, growth, division, response to stimuli, etc
Cellular processes include photosynthesis, respiration, mitosis, meiosis, etc

Gregor Mendel's laws of inheritance include segregation, independent assortment, dominance, and recessiveness
DNA structure is double-helical with sugar-phosphate backbone and nitrogenous bases
DNA replication occurs through semiconservative replication
Gene expression involves transcription and translation
Gene regulation occurs through gene silencing, enhancers, and promoters
Mutation, genetic drift, gene flow, and natural selection drive evolution
Speciation occurs through reproductive isolation and phylogeny

Ecosystems consist of interactions between biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) factors
Energy flows through ecosystems from producers to consumers to decomposers
Nutrient cycles include carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, etc
Population dynamics involve growth, regulation, and extinction
Conservation biology aims to preserve biodiversity and ecosystem services