12 Questions
What is the term for the variety of species in an ecosystem?
Biodiversity
What is the molecule that contains genetic information?
DNA
What is the process by which species adapt to their environment?
Natural selection
What is the study of microorganisms in the environment?
Microbial ecology
What is the organelle that contains genetic material in a cell?
Nucleus
What is the process of communication between cells?
Cell signaling
What is the term that describes the movement of the Earth's lithosphere into large plates?
Plate tectonics
What is the term used to describe the variety of different species present in an ecosystem?
Biodiversity
What is the term used to describe the long-term average atmospheric conditions in a particular region?
Climate
What is the term used to describe the movement of ocean water driven by wind, tides, and thermohaline circulation?
Ocean currents
What is the term used to describe the study of the origin, evolution, and fate of the universe?
Cosmology
What is the term used to describe the process of nutrient exchange between organisms and their environment?
Nutrient cycling
Study Notes
Ecology
- Study of relationships between living organisms and their environment
- Includes population dynamics, community ecology, ecosystem ecology, and conservation biology
- Habitat: environment in which an organism lives
- Niche: role an organism plays in its environment
- Biodiversity: variety of species in an ecosystem
- Energy flow: transfer of energy from one trophic level to another
Genetics
- Study of heredity, genes, and genetic variation
- DNA: molecule that contains genetic information
- Genotype: genetic makeup of an organism
- Phenotype: physical and behavioral characteristics of an organism
- Mendelian inheritance: principles of inheritance discovered by Gregor Mendel
- Genetic variation: differences in DNA sequence between individuals
Evolution
- Study of change in characteristics of a species over time
- Natural selection: process by which species adapt to their environment
- Speciation: formation of new species
- Fossil record: record of ancient life forms preserved in rocks
- Homologous structures: structures that are similar in different species
- Analogous structures: structures that are similar in function but not in structure
Microbiology
- Study of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi
- Prokaryotes: cells that lack a nucleus
- Eukaryotes: cells that have a nucleus
- Microbial ecology: study of microorganisms in the environment
- Microbial pathogenesis: study of microorganisms that cause disease
- Microbial genetics: study of genetic material of microorganisms
Cell Biology
- Study of structure, function, and behavior of cells
- Cell membrane: thin layer of lipid and protein molecules that surrounds the cell
- Cytoplasm: jelly-like substance inside the cell membrane
- Nucleus: organelle that contains genetic material
- Mitosis: process of cell division
- Organelles: specialized structures within the cell that perform specific functions
- Cell signaling: process of communication between cells
Geology
- Study of Earth's physical structure, composition, and processes
- Subfields: petrology, structural geology, and geomorphology
- Plate tectonics: theory of moving tectonic plates that shape the Earth's surface
- Rock cycle: process of rock formation, transformation, and destruction
- Geological time scale: division of Earth's history into eons, eras, and periods
Ecology (Subfields)
- Population ecology: study of population dynamics and interactions
- Community ecology: study of species interactions and community structure
- Ecosystem ecology: study of ecosystem processes and functioning
Meteorology
- Study of Earth's atmosphere, weather, and climate
- Weather: short-term atmospheric conditions (temperature, humidity, cloudiness, etc.)
- Climate: long-term atmospheric conditions (average temperature, precipitation, etc.)
- Atmospheric circulation: movement of air in the atmosphere (winds, ocean currents, etc.)
- Water cycle: process of evaporation, condensation, and precipitation
Meteorology (Subfields)
- Climatology: study of climate and climate change
- Synoptic meteorology: study of large-scale weather patterns and forecasting
Oceanography
- Study of Earth's oceans and their interactions with the atmosphere and land
- Ocean currents: movement of ocean water driven by wind, tides, and thermohaline circulation
- Ocean chemistry: study of ocean water chemistry and its impact on marine life
- Marine ecosystems: study of marine life and their interactions with the ocean environment
- Coastal processes: study of coastal erosion, deposition, and ocean-land interactions
Oceanography (Subfields)
- Physical oceanography: study of ocean circulation, waves, and tides
- Chemical oceanography: study of ocean chemistry and its impact on marine life
- Biological oceanography: study of marine life and ecosystems
Astronomy
- Study of the universe beyond the Earth's atmosphere
- Solar system: our planetary system, including the Sun and eight planets
- Stellar astronomy: study of stars, their life cycles, and properties
- Galactic astronomy: study of the Milky Way galaxy and its structure
- Cosmology: study of the origin, evolution, and fate of the universe
Astronomy (Subfields)
- Planetary science: study of planets, moons, asteroids, and comets
- Stellar evolution: study of star formation, life cycles, and death
- Astrobiology: study of the origin and possibility of life beyond Earth
Learn the basics of biology, covering ecology, genetics, evolution, microbiology, and cell biology. Key concepts include habitat, niche, biodiversity, DNA, genotype, phenotype, and more.
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