Biology Concepts: Homeostasis and Cell Functions

Homeostasis

• Homeostasis is a process for maintaining a stable internal environment, like regulating temperature and glucose levels.

Autotrophs and Heterotrophs

• Autotrophs produce their own food (e.g., plants).
• Heterotrophs obtain energy by consuming other organisms (e.g., humans).

Cell Specialization

• Cells in an organism can develop different functions.

Cell Culture

• Cell culture involves growing cells outside their natural environment in a controlled setting.

Cell Fractionation

• Cell fractionation is a technique to separate different cellular components.

Centrifuge

• A centrifuge is a device that separates cellular components based on density.

Competition

• Intraspecific competition occurs between members of the same species.
• Interspecific competition takes place between different species.

Predation

• Predation is when one organism captures and consumes another.

Symbiosis

• Symbiosis describes a close relationship between two species.

Mutualism

• Mutualism benefits both interacting species.

Commensalism

• Commensalism benefits one species without affecting the other.

Parasitism

• Parasitism benefits one species while harming the other.

Cell Structures

• Cell wall: An outer layer surrounding some cells, primarily plant cells, located outside the cell membrane.
• Cell membrane (plasma membrane): A double layer of lipids and proteins surrounding all cells.

Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes

• Prokaryotes lack a nucleus containing their genetic material (e.g., bacteria).
• Eukaryotes possess a nucleus containing their genetic material (e.g., animals, plants).

Diffusion and Osmosis

• Diffusion is the movement of particles from a high concentration to a low concentration.
• Osmosis is the movement of water across a selectively permeable membrane.

Tonicity

• Hypertonic: Higher solute concentration than another solution.
• Hypotonic: Lower solute concentration than another solution.
• Isotonic: Equal solute concentration.

Lactic Fermentation

• Lactic fermentation is a metabolic process that converts glucose into cellular energy.

Explore fundamental concepts in biology, including homeostasis, autotrophs and heterotrophs, and cell specialization. This quiz covers key processes like cell culture, fractionation, and the dynamics of competition, predation, and symbiosis. Test your understanding of how organisms interact and function at the cellular level.