Biology Chapter: Cells, Genetics, and Evolution

Cell Structure and Function

• Cell Theory: All living organisms are composed of cells; the cell is the basic unit of life; all cells arise from pre-existing cells.
• Prokaryotic vs Eukaryotic Cells:
  • Prokaryotic: No nucleus, smaller, simpler (e.g., bacteria).
  • Eukaryotic: Contains nucleus, larger, complex (e.g., plants, animals).

Genetics

• DNA Structure: Double helix composed of nucleotides (adenine, thymine, cytosine, guanine).
• Gene: Unit of heredity; a segment of DNA that codes for a protein.
• Mendelian Genetics: Dominant and recessive traits; principles of segregation and independent assortment.

Evolution

• Natural Selection: Mechanism by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.
• Adaptation: Traits that enhance survival and reproduction in a specific environment.
• Speciation: Process by which new species arise, often through evolutionary mechanisms like isolation.

Ecology

• Ecosystems: Community of living organisms interacting with their physical environment.
• Food Chains/Webs: Energy flow through trophic levels; producers (plants), consumers (herbivores, carnivores), and decomposers.
• Biomes: Large ecological areas with distinct climates and organisms (e.g., tundra, rainforest).

Human Biology

• Organ Systems:
  • Circulatory: Transports blood and nutrients.
  • Respiratory: Facilitates gas exchange (oxygen and carbon dioxide).
  • Digestive: Breaks down food and absorbs nutrients.
• Homeostasis: The maintenance of stable internal conditions despite external changes.

Physiology

• Cellular Respiration: Process by which cells convert glucose and oxygen into energy (ATP), producing carbon dioxide and water as byproducts.
• Photosynthesis: Conversion of light energy into chemical energy in plants, using carbon dioxide and water to produce glucose and oxygen.

Microbiology

• Bacteria: Single-celled organisms; can be beneficial or pathogenic.
• Viruses: Infectious agents that require a host cell to replicate; not classified as living organisms.
• Fungi: Eukaryotic organisms that decompose organic material; can be unicellular (yeasts) or multicellular (molds).

Plant Biology

• Photosynthesis: Occurs in chloroplasts; converts sunlight into chemical energy.
• Plant Tissues:
  • Dermal: Protects plant; regulates gas exchange.
  • Vascular: Transports water (xylem) and nutrients (phloem).
  • Ground: Provides support and storage.

Animal Behavior

• Innate Behavior: Instinctual actions not learned (e.g., reflexes).
• Learned Behavior: Acquired through experience (e.g., conditioned responses).
• Social Structure: Organization of individuals in a group, influences reproduction, survival, and foraging.

Biotechnology

• Genetic Engineering: Manipulation of an organism's DNA to achieve desirable traits (e.g., GMOs).
• CRISPR-Cas9: Tool for editing genes with precision.
• Biopharmaceuticals: Medications produced using biological processes (e.g., insulin production from bacteria).

Cell Biology

• Cell Theory: All living things are made of cells, cells are the basic units of life, and all cells come from pre-existing cells.
• Prokaryotes are single-celled organisms without a nucleus or other membrane-bound organelles (e.g., bacteria).
• Eukaryotes have a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles (e.g., plants, animals, fungi, protists).

Genetics

• DNA is a double-helix molecule made up of nucleotides (adenine, thymine, cytosine, guanine).
• Genes are segments of DNA that code for specific proteins.
• Mendelian Genetics describes the principles of inheritance, including dominant and recessive traits and the principles of segregation and independent assortment.

Evolution

• Natural Selection is a process where organisms with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on those traits.
• Adaptation is a feature that helps an organism survive and reproduce in its specific environment.
• Speciation is the formation of new species, often through isolation and evolutionary changes.

Ecology

• Ecosystems are communities of living organisms interacting with their physical environment.
• Food chains/webs illustrate the flow of energy through trophic levels, starting with producers (plants) and moving through consumers (herbivores, carnivores) to decomposers.
• Biomes are large-scale geographical areas defined by their distinct climates and characteristic plant and animal life (e.g., tundra, rainforest).

Human Biology

• Organ systems work together to maintain life.
  • The circulatory system pumps blood and transports nutrients.
  • The respiratory system handles gas exchange (oxygen and carbon dioxide).
  • The digestive system breaks down food and absorbs nutrients.
• Homeostasis is the ability to maintain stable internal conditions despite external changes.

Physiology

• Cellular respiration is a process where cells convert glucose and oxygen into energy (ATP), releasing carbon dioxide and water as byproducts.
• Photosynthesis is the process used by plants to transform light energy into chemical energy (glucose), using carbon dioxide and water and releasing oxygen.

Microbiology

• Bacteria are single-celled prokaryotes, some beneficial (e.g., in digestion) and others pathogenic (causing disease).
• Viruses are not considered living organisms, as they require a host cell to replicate.
• Fungi are eukaryotic organisms that play a key role in decomposition, including single-celled yeasts and multicellular molds.

Plant Biology

• Photosynthesis occurs in chloroplasts, converting light energy into chemical energy.
• Plant tissues are specialized for different functions.
  • Dermal tissue protects the plant and regulates gas exchange.
  • Vascular tissue transports water (xylem) and nutrients (phloem).
  • Ground tissue provides support and storage.

Animal Behavior

• Innate behavior is instinctive and not learned (e.g., reflexes).
• Learned behavior is acquired through experience and can be modified (e.g., conditioned responses).
• Social structures are the patterns of organization within groups, influencing behaviors like reproduction, survival, and foraging.

Biotechnology

• Genetic engineering involves manipulating an organism's DNA to achieve desired traits (e.g., GMOs).
• CRISPR-Cas9 is a technology used to edit genes with precision, offering possibilities for disease treatment and genetic modification.
• Biopharmaceuticals are medications produced using biological processes (e.g., insulin production from bacteria).

Explore the fundamental concepts of cell structure, genetics, and evolution in this quiz. Test your understanding of cell theory, DNA structure, Mendelian genetics, and the processes of natural selection and speciation. Perfect for students looking to solidify their knowledge in biology.