Biology Basics

Biology

• The study of living organisms and their interactions with each other and their environment
• Subfields:
  • Botany: study of plants
  • Zoology: study of animals
  • Microbiology: study of microorganisms
  • Ecology: study of interactions between organisms and their environment
• Key concepts:
  • Cells: basic units of life
  • Genetics: study of heredity and variation
  • Evolution: change in species over time
  • Ecosystems: communities of living and non-living components

Chemistry

• The study of the composition, properties, and reactions of matter
• Subfields:
  • Inorganic chemistry: study of non-living matter
  • Organic chemistry: study of carbon-containing compounds
  • Physical chemistry: study of chemical reactions and processes
  • Biochemistry: study of chemical processes in living organisms
• Key concepts:
  • Atoms: building blocks of matter
  • Molecules: groups of atoms bonded together
  • Chemical reactions: changes in chemical bonds
  • Periodic table: organized table of elements

Physics

• The study of the fundamental laws of the universe and the behavior of energy and matter
• Subfields:
  • Mechanics: study of motion and forces
  • Thermodynamics: study of heat and energy
  • Electricity and magnetism: study of electric charges and currents
  • Quantum mechanics: study of behavior of matter and energy at atomic and subatomic level
• Key concepts:
  • Newton's laws: laws of motion and universal gravitation
  • Energy: capacity to do work
  • Forces: pushes or pulls that cause motion or change
  • Waves: periodic disturbances that transfer energy

Biology

• Living organisms share common characteristics: grow, respond to stimuli, reproduce, metabolize, and maintain homeostasis
• Levels of organization in biology: molecules, cells, tissues, organs, organ systems, organisms, populations, communities, ecosystems
• Botany: study of plant structure, growth, evolution, classification, and interactions with the environment
• Zoology: study of animal structure, growth, evolution, classification, and interactions with the environment
• Microbiology: study of microorganism structure, function, growth, evolution, and interactions with the environment
• Ecology: study of interactions between organisms and their environment, including populations, communities, and ecosystems

Chemistry

• Matter: anything that has mass and occupies space
• Properties of matter: physical (e.g., color, texture) and chemical (e.g., flammability, reactivity)
• Inorganic chemistry: study of non-living matter, including minerals, metals, and acids
• Organic chemistry: study of carbon-containing compounds, including fossil fuels, pharmaceuticals, and biomolecules
• Physical chemistry: study of chemical reactions, thermodynamics, and kinetics
• Biochemistry: study of chemical processes in living organisms, including metabolism and enzyme function

Physics

• Fundamental laws of the universe: laws of motion, gravity, electromagnetism, and quantum mechanics
• Types of energy: kinetic, potential, thermal, electrical, and chemical
• Newton's laws:
  • First law: law of inertia, objects at rest stay at rest, objects in motion stay in motion
  • Second law: force is equal to mass times acceleration
  • Third law: every action has an equal and opposite reaction
• Types of forces: gravity, friction, normal, tension, air resistance, and thrust