Biology Branches and Cellular Basics

Branches of Biology

• Botany: Study of plants, including their structure, growth, evolution, and taxonomy.
• Zoology: Study of animals, including their structure, behavior, evolution, and taxonomy.
• Microbiology: Study of microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
• Ecology: Study of the relationships between organisms and their environment.

Cellular Biology

• Cell Structure: Cell membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus, and organelles (e.g. mitochondria, chloroplasts).
• Cellular Processes: Photosynthesis, respiration, mitosis, and meiosis.
• Cellular Transport: Passive (diffusion, osmosis) and active transport (carrier proteins, pumps).

Genetics

• Mendelian Genetics: Laws of inheritance, including segregation, independent assortment, and dominance.
• Molecular Genetics: Structure and function of DNA, RNA, and proteins; genetic code and mutations.

Evolution

• Mechanisms of Evolution: Natural selection, genetic drift, gene flow, and mutation.
• Evidence for Evolution: Fossil record, comparative anatomy, and molecular biology.

Organismal Biology

• Plant Biology: Plant structure, growth, and function; photosynthesis and responses to environment.
• Animal Biology: Animal structure, function, and behavior; physiology and responses to environment.

Ecosystems and Ecology

• Ecosystem Components: Producers, consumers, decomposers, and abiotic factors.
• Ecosystem Processes: Energy flow, nutrient cycling, and ecosystem services.
• Ecological Interactions: Predator-prey, competition, symbiosis, and mutualism.

Branches of Biology

• Botany is the study of plants, including their structure, growth, evolution, and taxonomy.
• Zoology is the study of animals, including their structure, behavior, evolution, and taxonomy.
• Microbiology is the study of microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
• Ecology is the study of the relationships between organisms and their environment.

Cellular Biology

Cell Structure

• A cell consists of a cell membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus, and organelles such as mitochondria and chloroplasts.

Cellular Processes

• Photosynthesis is the process by which cells produce their own food using light 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 with the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell.
• Meiosis is the process of cell division that results in four daughter cells with half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell.

Cellular Transport

• Passive transport involves the movement of molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration.
• Osmosis is the movement of water molecules into or out of a cell.
• Active transport involves the use of energy to move molecules against their concentration gradient.
• Carrier proteins and pumps are used in active transport.

Genetics

Mendelian Genetics

• The law of segregation states that each pair of alleles separates from each other during gamete formation.
• The law of independent assortment states that alleles for different genes are sorted independently of each other during gamete formation.
• The law of dominance states that one allele can be dominant over another allele.

Molecular Genetics

• DNA is the genetic material that contains the instructions for an organism's development and function.
• RNA is a molecule that is synthesized from DNA and carries genetic information.
• Proteins are molecules that perform specific functions in an organism.
• The genetic code is the set of rules that dictates how DNA sequence determines amino acid sequence.
• Mutations are changes to an organism's DNA sequence.

Evolution

Mechanisms of Evolution

• Natural selection is the process by which populations that are better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce.
• Genetic drift is the random change in allele frequency in a population.
• Gene flow is the movement of genes from one population to another.
• Mutation is a change in an organism's DNA sequence.

Evidence for Evolution

• The fossil record shows the history of life on Earth.
• Comparative anatomy shows the similarities and differences between organisms.
• Molecular biology provides evidence for evolution through the similarities and differences in DNA and protein sequences.

Organismal Biology

Plant Biology

• Plants have structures such as roots, stems, and leaves that allow them to grow and function.
• Photosynthesis is the process by which plants produce their own food using light energy.
• Plants respond to their environment through mechanisms such as tropisms and photoperiodism.

Animal Biology

• Animals have structures such as skin, muscles, and organs that allow them to function.
• Animals respond to their environment through mechanisms such as reflexes and behavior.

Ecosystems and Ecology

Ecosystem Components

• Producers are organisms that produce their own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis.
• Consumers are organisms that obtain energy by consuming other organisms.
• Decomposers are organisms that break down dead organic matter.
• Abiotic factors are non-living components of an ecosystem, such as light, temperature, and water.

Ecosystem Processes

• Energy flows from producers to consumers through the food chain.
• Nutrient cycling involves the movement of nutrients through an ecosystem.
• Ecosystem services include processes such as air and water purification.

Ecological Interactions

• Predator-prey interactions involve the relationship between predators and their prey.
• Competition involves the struggle for resources between different organisms.
• Symbiosis is a close and often long-term relationship between different species.
• Mutualism is a type of symbiosis that benefits both species.