Biology Overview

Definition and Scope

• Biology is the scientific study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy.
• It explores the diversity of life forms, from molecules to ecosystems.

Branches of Biology

• Botany: study of plants and their interactions with the environment
• Zoology: study of animals and their interactions with the environment
• Microbiology: study of microorganisms, such as bacteria and viruses
• Ecology: study of the relationships between organisms and their environment
• Genetics: study of heredity, genes, and genetic variation
• Biochemistry: study of the chemical processes and substances that occur within living organisms
• Biophysics: study of the physical principles underlying biological processes

Biological Molecules

• Carbohydrates: energy source for cells, composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen
• Proteins: building blocks of life, composed of amino acids
• Lipids: energy storage molecules, composed of fatty acids and glycerol
• Nucleic Acids: DNA and RNA, containing genetic information

Cell Biology

• Cell Structure: plasma membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus, mitochondria, ribosomes, lysosomes
• Cellular Processes: metabolism, photosynthesis, respiration, mitosis, meiosis

Evolution and Diversity

• Theory of Evolution: species change over time through natural selection, genetic drift, mutation, and gene flow
• Species Diversity: classification, taxonomy, and characteristics of different species
• Phylogeny: study of evolutionary relationships between organisms

Ecology and Ecosystems

• Ecosystem Components: biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) factors
• Energy Flow: producers, consumers, decomposers, and energy transfer
• Population Dynamics: growth, limitation, and interactions between populations

Definition and Scope

• Biology is the scientific study of life and living organisms, exploring their structure, function, growth, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy.

Branches of Biology

• Botany explores the interactions between plants and their environment.
• Zoology examines the interactions between animals and their environment.
• Microbiology studies microorganisms, such as bacteria and viruses.
• Ecology examines the relationships between organisms and their environment.
• Genetics delves into heredity, genes, and genetic variation.
• Biochemistry investigates the chemical processes and substances within living organisms.
• Biophysics explores the physical principles underlying biological processes.

Biological Molecules

• Carbohydrates serve as an energy source for cells, composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.
• Proteins are the building blocks of life, consisting of amino acids.
• Lipids are energy storage molecules, comprising fatty acids and glycerol.
• Nucleic acids, including DNA and RNA, contain genetic information.

Cell Biology

• Cell structure consists of the plasma membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus, mitochondria, ribosomes, and lysosomes.
• Cellular processes include metabolism, photosynthesis, respiration, mitosis, and meiosis.

Evolution and Diversity

• The theory of evolution explains how species change over time through natural selection, genetic drift, mutation, and gene flow.
• Species diversity involves classification, taxonomy, and the characteristics of different species.
• Phylogeny is the study of evolutionary relationships between organisms.

Ecology and Ecosystems

• Ecosystem components consist of biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) factors.
• Energy flow occurs through producers, consumers, decomposers, and energy transfer.
• Population dynamics involve growth, limitation, and interactions between populations.