Biology Fundamentals

• Biology is the scientific study of life.
• Biology plays a role in our everyday lives through the interaction of living and nonliving things. For example, bacteria and ecosystems.
• Life is defined by the ability to be self-sustaining.
• The characteristics of life include the ability to:
• Respire (break down molecules)
• Grow
• Excrete (remove waste from organism)
• Reproduce
• Metabolize
• Move
• Be responsive to the environment
• The order/organization of organisms, from smallest to largest includes:
• Atom
• Molecule (ex: DNA)
• Organelle (ex: Chloroplast)
• Cell
• Tissue
• Organ (ex: Leaf)
• Organ system
• Organism (ex: Tree)
• Population (multiple trees of the same type)
• Community (populations in a savanna)
• Ecosystem (the savanna)
• Biosphere (earth)
• Natural selection is when a trait is adapted for survival and reproducing those characteristics.
• Evolution is the increase of the characteristics over time through natural selection.
• A cell is the basic unit of life; every organism consists of one or more cells.

Metric System

• The metric system is a system of measurement. For example, bacteria are measured in micrometers.
• Robert Hooke was the first person to see cells under a microscope.
• All cells have these features in common:
• Plasma membrane
• Cytoplasm
• DNA
• Ribosomes
• Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells can be defined and compared.
• Animal and plant cells can be compared.
• The location, characteristics, and function of these cell components should be known:
• Cell membrane
• Nucleus
• Ribosome
• Golgi apparatus
• Mitochondrion
• Organisms are classified based on similarities and differences.
• The three domains on the Tree of Life:
• Bacteria
• Archaea
• Eukarya
• The cell type, characteristics, presence/absence of nucleus, and examples of the three domains on the Tree of Life:
• Bacteria:
• Cell Type: Prokaryotic
• Nucleus: Absent
• Membrane-Bounded Organelles: Absent
• Membrane Chemistry: Fatty acids
• Typical Cell Size: 1-10 µm
• Archaea:
• Cell Type: Prokaryotic
• Nucleus: Absent
• Membrane-Bounded Organelles: Absent
• Membrane Chemistry: Nonfatty acid lipids
• Typical Cell Size: 1-10 µm
• Eukarya:
• Cell Type: Eukaryotic
• Nucleus: Present
• Membrane-Bounded Organelles: Present
• Membrane Chemistry: Fatty acids
• Typical Cell Size: 10-100 µm

Science and Theory

• Science is the process of learning about the world by asking questions and testing them.
• Theory is the explanation of something that has been tested and supported by evidence.
• The steps of the scientific method in order are:
• Make observation
• Ask a question
• Consult prior knowledge
• Formulate a hypothesis
• Make predictions
• Design experiment
• Collect and interpret data
• Consult prior knowledge
• Draw conclusions
• Peer review
• Publish
• A hypothesis is a tentative explanation for one or more observations.
• A prediction is the anticipated outcome of the test of a hypothesis.
• Alternate hypothesis: claims there is an effect on the population.
• Null hypothesis: claims there is no effect on the population.
• An experiment is a procedure carried out under controlled conditions in order to discover unknown or test/establish a hypothesis.
• The control group is an untreated group used as a basis for comparison with a treated group in an experiment.
• The experimental group is a group that is treated in an experiment.
• Sample size is the number of subjects in each experimental group.
• A variable is any changeable element in an experiment.
• An independent variable is a factor that is hypothesized to influence a dependent variable (x - axis, horizontal).
• A dependent variable is the response that may be under the influence of an independent variable (y- axis vertical)
• Confounding variables should be considered

Matter, Elements and Molecules

• Matter is a substance that takes up space and is made of atoms.
• An element is a pure substance consisting of atoms containing a characteristic number of protons.
• A molecule is a group of atoms bonded together (smallest unit of a chemical compound).
• An atom is a particle of matter; composed of protons neutrons, and electrons.
• Components of an atom: protons neutrons, and electrons.
• Electron: Negative Charge & Located Surrounding the nucleus
• Neutron: No Charge & Located Inside the Nucleus
• Proton: Positive Charge & Located Inside the Nucleus
• The differences between ionic bonds, covalent bonds, and hydrogen bonds
• Ionic Bonds: The electrical attraction between two ions with opposite charge
• Covalent bond: two atoms share elections (most molecules are covalent)
• Hydrogen Bond: weak chemical bond between opposite partial charges on two molecules or within one large molecule
• An ion is an atom or group of atoms that has lost or gained electrons, giving it an electrical charge.
• The properties of water are:
• Low density as a solid (ice creates barrier so organism survive under)
• High specific heat (more heat energy for temperature change)
• Capillary Action ability of liquid to flow against gravity)
• High surface tension (hydrogen bonds strong on top - why things float on water)
• Universal solvent (water can dissolve ionic and polar molecules)
• Cohesion (how water is able to flow and stick to surfaces)
• pH scale should be understood
• Distinguishing between acids, bases, neutral:
• Neutral (water) example
• Acid: A molecule that releases hydrogen ions into a solution (sour foods)
• Base: Molecule that either releases hydroxide ions into solution or removes hydrogen ion (baking soda)
• Elements found in organic compounds (biological macromolecules)
• carbon
• hydrogen
• oxygen
• nitrogen
• Four types of organic compounds (biological macromolecules):
• carbohydrates
• lipids
• protein
• nucleic acids
• A monomer is a small chemical unite that joins to form polymers.
• Monomers for the organic compounds:
• Carbohydrates: Monosaccharides
• Lipids: glycerol and fatty acid chains
• Proteins: amino Acids
• Nucleic Acids: Nucleotides
• Elements found in the organic compounds:
• Carbohydrates: Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H), oxygen (O)
• Lipids: C,H,O
• Proteins: C,H,O, Nitrogen (N)
• Nucleic Acids: C, H, O, N, phosphorus (P)
• Monosaccharides: One sugar unit (ex: glucose).
• Disaccharides: Two sugar molecules linked together (ex: sucrose (one glucose and one fructose together)).
• Polysaccharides: More than ten sure units linked together (starch, cellulose, glycogen).
• Characteristics of fats/lipids:
• hydrophobic
• nonpolar,
• made up mostly of hydrocarbon chains
• Functions of lipids:
• help with moving and storing energy
• absorbing vitamins
• making hormones
• Functions of proteins:
• controls activities of life
• insulin controls amount of sugar in blood
• Enzymes help speed up chemical reactions in human body
• Examples of nucleic acids.
• DNA
• RNA
• Components of nucleotides:
• 5 carbon sugar - ribose in RNA, deoxyribose in DNA, one phosphate group (attached to sugar carbon atoms)
• Comparing DNA, RNA, ATP:
• DNA stores genetic info as double helix
• RNA is single strand that helps translate dna instructions
• ATP is primary storage unit of chemical energy
• Simple carbs examples: table sugar, honey, and fruit juice.
• Complex carbs examples: whole grains, beans, and starchy vegetables
• Saturated fats: have single bonds between their carbon atoms
• Unsaturated fats: have double bonds
• Trans fats are a type of unsaturated fat that is artificially produced.