Biology Branches and Cell Biology

Cell structure:
- Plasma membrane: outer layer, regulates what enters and leaves cell
- Cytoplasm: jelly-like substance inside cell, contains organelles
- Nucleus: contains DNA, controls cell growth and reproduction
Cellular processes:
- Photosynthesis: conversion of light energy into chemical energy
- Respiration: conversion of chemical energy into ATP
- Mitosis: cell division, resulting in two identical daughter cells
- Meiosis: cell division, resulting in four non-identical daughter cells (gametes)

Mendel's Laws:
- Law of Segregation: alleles separate during gamete formation
- Law of Independent Assortment: alleles for different genes are sorted independently
- Law of Dominance: dominant allele is expressed over recessive allele
DNA structure:
- Double helix: two strands of nucleotides twisted together
- Nucleotides: composed of sugar, phosphate, and nitrogenous base
- Genetic code: sequence of nucleotides determines amino acid sequence
Gene expression:
- Transcription: DNA to RNA
- Translation: RNA to protein

Mechanisms of evolution:
- Natural selection: survival and reproduction of fittest individuals
- Genetic drift: random change in allele frequency
- Mutation: change in DNA sequence
- Gene flow: movement of genes between populations
Evidence for evolution:
- Fossil record: chronological record of life on Earth
- Comparative anatomy: similar structures in different species
- Molecular biology: similarities in DNA and protein sequences

Components of ecosystems:
- Biotic factors: living organisms (plants, animals, microorganisms)
- Abiotic factors: non-living components (light, temperature, water, etc.)
Energy flow:
- Producers: convert sunlight into energy (plants, algae)
- Consumers: obtain energy by consuming other organisms
- Decomposers: break down organic matter
Nutrient cycles:
- Carbon cycle: exchange of carbon between organisms and environment
- Nitrogen cycle: exchange of nitrogen between organisms and environment
- Water cycle: exchange of water between organisms and environment

Plasma membrane is the outer layer of a cell, regulating what enters and leaves
Cytoplasm is a jelly-like substance inside a cell, containing organelles
Nucleus contains DNA, controlling cell growth and reproduction
Photosynthesis is the conversion of light energy into chemical energy
Respiration is the conversion of chemical energy into ATP
Mitosis is cell division, resulting in two identical daughter cells
Meiosis is cell division, resulting in four non-identical daughter cells (gametes)

Mendel's Law of Segregation states that alleles separate during gamete formation
Mendel's Law of Independent Assortment states that alleles for different genes are sorted independently
Mendel's Law of Dominance states that dominant alleles are expressed over recessive alleles
DNA structure is a double helix, consisting of two strands of nucleotides twisted together
Nucleotides are composed of sugar, phosphate, and nitrogenous base
The genetic code determines amino acid sequence based on nucleotide sequence
Transcription is the process of DNA to RNA
Translation is the process of RNA to protein

Mechanisms of evolution include natural selection, genetic drift, mutation, and gene flow
Natural selection is the survival and reproduction of fittest individuals
Genetic drift is a random change in allele frequency
Mutation is a change in DNA sequence
Gene flow is the movement of genes between populations
Fossil record provides a chronological record of life on Earth
Comparative anatomy shows similar structures in different species
Molecular biology reveals similarities in DNA and protein sequences between species

Biotic factors are living organisms, including plants, animals, and microorganisms
Abiotic factors are non-living components, including light, temperature, water, and more
Producers convert sunlight into energy, including plants and algae
Consumers obtain energy by consuming other organisms
Decomposers break down organic matter
Energy flow occurs from producers to consumers and decomposers
Carbon cycle is the exchange of carbon between organisms and environment
Nitrogen cycle is the exchange of nitrogen between organisms and environment
Water cycle is the exchange of water between organisms and environment