Biology Branches and Cell 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
• Biochemistry: study of chemical processes in living organisms
• Molecular Biology: study of biological molecules and their interactions
• Evolutionary Biology: study of evolution and its processes

Cell Biology

• Cell structure:
  • Plasma membrane
  • Cytoplasm
  • Nucleus
  • Mitochondria
  • Endoplasmic reticulum
  • Ribosomes
• Cell functions:
  • Metabolism
  • Energy production
  • Protein synthesis
  • Cell division
  • Cell signaling

Molecular Biology

• DNA structure:
  • Double helix
  • Nucleotides (A, C, G, T)
• RNA structure:
  • Single strand
  • Nucleotides (A, C, G, U)
• Gene expression:
  • Transcription (DNA to RNA)
  • Translation (RNA to protein)
• Genetic code:
  • 3 nucleotides encode 1 amino acid
  • 20 amino acids are used in proteins

Evolution

• Mechanisms of evolution:
  • Natural selection
  • Genetic drift
  • Mutation
  • Gene flow
• Types of evolution:
  • Microevolution (within a population)
  • Macroevolution (between populations)
• Evidence for evolution:
  • Fossil record
  • Comparative anatomy
  • Molecular biology

Ecosystems

• Components of ecosystems:
  • Biotic factors (living organisms)
  • Abiotic factors (non-living environment)
• Energy flow:
  • Producers (plants)
  • Consumers (herbivores, carnivores, omnivores)
  • Decomposers (bacteria, fungi)
• Nutrient cycles:
  • Carbon cycle
  • Nitrogen cycle
  • Water cycle

Biological Systems

• Nervous system:
  • Central nervous system (brain, spinal cord)
  • Peripheral nervous system (nerves)
• Circulatory system:
  • Heart
  • Blood vessels
  • Blood
• Immune system:
  • White blood cells
  • Lymphatic system
  • Immune responses

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
• Biochemistry is the study of chemical processes in living organisms
• Molecular Biology is the study of biological molecules and their interactions
• Evolutionary Biology is the study of evolution and its processes

Cell Biology

• A cell's structure consists of a plasma membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, and ribosomes
• Cell functions include metabolism, energy production, protein synthesis, cell division, and cell signaling

Molecular Biology

• DNA has a double helix structure composed of nucleotides A, C, G, and T
• RNA has a single strand structure composed of nucleotides A, C, G, and U
• Gene expression involves transcription (DNA to RNA) and translation (RNA to protein)
• The genetic code uses 3 nucleotides to encode 1 amino acid, with 20 amino acids used in proteins

Evolution

• Mechanisms of evolution include natural selection, genetic drift, mutation, and gene flow
• Evolution can be microevolution (within a population) or macroevolution (between populations)
• Evidence for evolution includes the fossil record, comparative anatomy, and molecular biology

Ecosystems

• Ecosystems consist of biotic factors (living organisms) and abiotic factors (non-living environment)
• Energy flows through producers (plants), consumers (herbivores, carnivores, omnivores), and decomposers (bacteria, fungi)
• Nutrient cycles include the carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle, and water cycle

Biological Systems

• The nervous system includes the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord) and peripheral nervous system (nerves)
• The circulatory system consists of the heart, blood vessels, and blood
• The immune system includes white blood cells, the lymphatic system, and immune responses