Biology Chapter: Cells, Genetics, Evolution, Ecology

Cell Structure and Function

• Cells: Fundamental unit of life.
• Prokaryotic Cells: No nucleus; bacteria and archaea.
  • Example: E. coli
• Eukaryotic Cells: Nucleus present; plants, animals, fungi, protists.
  • Organelles: Mitotic division, metabolism, protein synthesis.

Genetics

• DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid): Genetic blueprint; double helix structure.
• Chromosomes: Structures within cells that contain DNA.
  • Humans: 23 pairs of chromosomes.
• Genes: Segments of DNA that code for proteins.
• Alleles: Different forms of a gene.
• Mendelian Genetics: Principles of inheritance by Gregor Mendel.
  • Dominant and recessive traits.

Evolution

• Natural Selection: Process where organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.
• Evolutionary Theory: Proposed by Charles Darwin.
  • Common ancestry.
  • Adaptation over time.

Ecology

• Ecosystem: Community of living organisms and their physical environment.
• Biotic Factors: Living components (plants, animals).
• Abiotic Factors: Non-living components (water, temperature).
• Food Chains and Webs: Energy flow and trophic levels.
  • Producers (autotrophs) → Consumers (heterotrophs) → Decomposers.

Physiology

• Homeostasis: Maintenance of stable internal conditions.
  • Examples: Body temperature, pH level.
• Nervous System: Controls and coordinates actions via electrical signals.
• Endocrine System: Hormonal regulation of bodily functions.

Anatomy

• Human Body Systems:
  • Circulatory, Respiratory, Digestive, Musculoskeletal, Nervous, Endocrine, Immune.
• Organs: Specialized structures (heart, lungs, brain, liver).
• Tissues: Groups of cells with a common structure/function.
  • Types: Epithelial, Connective, Muscle, Nervous.

Biotechnology

• Genetic Engineering: Modification of an organism's DNA.
• Cloning: Producing genetically identical individuals.
• CRISPR: Technology for precise gene editing.

Microbiology

• Microorganisms: Bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa.
• Pathogens: Disease-causing agents (e.g., bacteria causing infections).
• Antibiotics: Drugs that kill bacteria or inhibit their growth.

Plant Biology

• Photosynthesis: Process by which plants convert sunlight into chemical energy.
  • Formula: 6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6 + 6O2.
• Plant Structures: Roots, stems, leaves, flowers.
• Transport Systems: Xylem (water) and phloem (nutrients).

Animal Behavior

• Innate Behavior: Instinctual or reflex actions.
• Learned Behavior: Acquired through experience.
• Social Behavior: Interactions among individuals within a species.

Molecular Biology

• Proteins: Essential macromolecules made from amino acids.
• Enzymes: Proteins that catalyze biochemical reactions.
• Cell Signaling: Communication between cells via signaling molecules.

Human Biology

• Reproductive System: Involves gamete production and fertilization.
• Immune Response: Body's defense mechanisms against pathogens.
• Metabolism: Chemical processes for maintaining life (catabolism and anabolism).

Cell Structure and Function

• Cells: The fundamental unit of life, responsible for all living processes.
• Prokaryotic Cells: Lack a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles; found in bacteria and archaea.
  • Example: E. coli bacteria.
• Eukaryotic Cells: Possess a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles; found in plants, animals, fungi, and protists.
  • Organelles like mitochondria are crucial for energy production, and ribosomes are responsible for protein synthesis.

Genetics

• DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid): The molecule that carries genetic instructions; structured as a double helix.
• Chromosomes: Structures within the nucleus containing tightly packaged DNA.
  • Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes.
• Genes: Segments of DNA that code for specific proteins.
• Alleles: Alternate forms of a gene, contributing to variation in traits.
• Mendelian Genetics: Principles of inheritance, established by Gregor Mendel; explains patterns of dominant and recessive traits.

Evolution

• Natural Selection: The driving force of evolution; organisms with traits better suited to their environment tend to survive and reproduce more successfully.
• Evolutionary Theory: Proposed by Charles Darwin; explains the diversity of life through common ancestry and the gradual accumulation of adaptations over time.

Ecology

• Ecosystem: A community of living organisms (biotic factors) interacting with their non-living environment (abiotic factors).
• Biotic Factors: Include plants, animals, fungi, and bacteria.
• Abiotic Factors: Include temperature, water, sunlight, and soil composition.
• Food Chains and Webs: Illustrate the flow of energy through ecosystems, with producers (autotrophs) converting sunlight into energy, followed by consumers (heterotrophs) and decomposers.

Physiology

• Homeostasis: The maintenance of stable internal conditions within an organism, despite external changes.
  • Examples: Regulating body temperature, blood sugar levels, and pH balance.
• Nervous System: Controls and coordinates bodily functions through electrical signals, enabling rapid communication and response.
• Endocrine System: Regulates bodily functions through hormones, which are chemical messengers that travel through the bloodstream.

Anatomy

• Human Body Systems: Complex, interconnected systems responsible for maintaining life.
  • Examples include the circulatory, respiratory, digestive, musculoskeletal, nervous, endocrine, and immune systems.
• Organs: Specialized structures composed of different tissues, performing specific functions; examples include the heart, lungs, brain, liver.
• Tissues: Groups of similar cells working together to perform a specific function.
  • Types include epithelial, connective, muscle, and nervous tissue.

Biotechnology

• Genetic Engineering: The modification of an organism's genetic material to alter its characteristics.
• Cloning: The process of creating genetically identical copies of an organism.
• CRISPR-Cas9: A revolutionary gene editing technology that allows for precise alterations to DNA sequences.

Microbiology

• Microorganisms: Diverse group of tiny living organisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa.
• Pathogens: Disease-causing microorganisms, such as bacteria that cause infections.
• Antibiotics: Drugs that target and kill bacteria or inhibit their growth, used to treat bacterial infections.

Plant Biology

• Photosynthesis: The process by which plants convert light energy from the sun into chemical energy (glucose).
  • Formula: 6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6 + 6O2
• Plant Structures: Roots, stems, leaves, and flowers are specialized structures with specific functions.
• Transport Systems: Xylem vessels transport water from roots to leaves, while phloem vessels transport sugars and other nutrients throughout the plant.

Animal Behavior

• Innate Behavior: Instinctive or reflex actions, present at birth and not learned through experience.
• Learned Behavior: Acquired through experience and interaction with the environment.
• Social Behavior: Interactions among individuals within a species, often involving communication, cooperation, and competition.

Molecular Biology

• Proteins: Essential macromolecules composed of amino acids, performing various functions in cells and organisms.
• Enzymes: Proteins that act as biological catalysts, speeding up biochemical reactions by lowering activation energy.
• Cell Signaling: Communication between cells through signaling molecules, enabling coordination and regulation of cellular functions.

Human Biology

• Reproductive System: Responsible for producing gametes (sperm and egg) and facilitating fertilization.
• Immune Response: The body's defense mechanisms against pathogens, involving various cells and processes to identify and destroy invading organisms.
• Metabolism: The sum of all chemical processes that occur within cells to maintain life, including catabolism (breakdown of molecules) and anabolism (synthesis of molecules).

Explore the fundamental concepts of biology including cell structure, genetics, evolution, and ecology. This quiz covers prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, the principles of inheritance, and natural selection as proposed by Darwin. Test your knowledge on the essential topics that make up the study of living organisms.