Biology Fundamentals

Branches of Biology

• Botany: study of plants
• Zoology: study of animals
• Microbiology: study of microorganisms
• Ecology: study of interactions between organisms and their environment
• Biochemistry: study of chemical processes in living organisms
• Molecular Biology: study of biological molecules and their interactions
• Genetics: study of heredity and variation
• Evolutionary Biology: study of evolutionary processes and history of life on Earth
• Biophysics: study of physical principles underlying biological processes
• Biostatistics: application of statistical principles to analyze biological data

Levels of Organization

• Molecules: basic building blocks of life (e.g. DNA, proteins, carbohydrates)
• Organelles: specialized structures within cells (e.g. mitochondria, chloroplasts)
• Cells: basic units of life (e.g. prokaryotic, eukaryotic)
• Tissues: groups of similar cells performing a specific function
• Organs: structures composed of multiple tissues (e.g. heart, liver)
• Organ Systems: groups of organs working together (e.g. circulatory, nervous)
• Organism: individual living being (e.g. human, plant, animal)
• Population: group of individuals of the same species
• Community: group of different species living in a particular area
• Ecosystem: community and its physical environment
• Biosphere: all ecosystems on Earth

Biological Molecules

• Carbohydrates: energy storage and structural molecules (e.g. glucose, cellulose)
• Proteins: structural, functional, and regulatory molecules (e.g. enzymes, hormones)
• Nucleic Acids: genetic information storage molecules (e.g. DNA, RNA)
• Lipids: energy storage and structural molecules (e.g. fats, oils, cholesterol)

Cell Processes

• Metabolism: energy conversion and molecular transformations
• Photosynthesis: light-dependent energy conversion in plants
• Cellular Respiration: energy conversion in cells (e.g. aerobic, anaerobic)
• Cell Signaling: communication between cells (e.g. hormones, neurotransmitters)
• Cell Division: reproduction and growth (e.g. mitosis, meiosis)

Evolution

• Natural Selection: adaptation and survival of the fittest
• Speciation: formation of new species
• Phylogeny: study of evolutionary relationships between organisms
• Fossil Record: evidence of evolutionary history