Biology Fundamentals

Branches of Biology

• Botany: Study of plants, including their structure, growth, evolution, and classification.
• Zoology: Study of animals, including their structure, growth, evolution, and classification.
• Microbiology: Study of microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
• Ecology: Study of the relationships between organisms and their environment.

Cells

• Cell Theory: All living organisms are composed of cells, cells are the basic unit of life, and all cells arise from pre-existing cells.
• Cell Structure: Cell membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus, mitochondria, ribosomes, lysosomes, and golgi apparatus.
• Cellular Processes: Metabolism, photosynthesis, respiration, and cell division (mitosis and meiosis).

Genetics

• Mendel's Laws: Laws of inheritance, including the law of segregation, law of independent assortment, and law of dominance.
• DNA Structure: Double helix model, with sugar and phosphate molecules making up the backbone, and nitrogenous bases (A, C, G, and T) forming the rungs.
• Genetic Code: Sequence of nitrogenous bases that determines the amino acid sequence of proteins.

Evolution

• Theory of Evolution: Species change over time through the process of natural selection, genetic drift, mutation, and gene flow.
• Mechanisms of Evolution: Natural selection, genetic drift, mutation, and gene flow.
• Evidence for Evolution: Fossil record, comparative anatomy, and molecular biology.

Ecosystems

• Ecosystem Components: Producers (plants), consumers (herbivores, carnivores, omnivores), and decomposers (bacteria, fungi).
• Energy Flow: Energy from the sun is transferred from producers to consumers through food chains and food webs.
• Ecosystem Services: Provisioning services (food, water, etc.), regulating services (climate regulation, etc.), and cultural services (recreation, etc.).