Biology Quiz: Cell, Genetics, Evolution, Ecology

Cell Theory: All living organisms are composed of cells; the cell is the basic unit of life; all cells arise from pre-existing cells.
Types of Cells:
- Prokaryotic Cells: No nucleus; simpler structure (e.g., bacteria).
- Eukaryotic Cells: Have a nucleus; complex structure (e.g., plant and animal cells).

DNA Structure: Double helix; composed of nucleotides (adenine, thymine, cytosine, guanine).
Genes: Segments of DNA that code for proteins; responsible for hereditary traits.
Mendelian Inheritance: Involves dominant and recessive alleles; traits segregate independently.

Natural Selection: Process where organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.
Speciation: The formation of new and distinct species in the course of evolution.
Evidence for Evolution: Fossil records, comparative anatomy, molecular biology.

Ecosystems: Communities of living organisms interacting with their environment.
Food Chains/Webs: Represent energy flow; producers (plants) → consumers (herbivores/carnivores) → decomposers.
Biomes: Large ecological areas with distinct climates and organisms (e.g., deserts, forests).

Homeostasis: The maintenance of stable internal conditions despite external changes.
Organ Systems:
- Nervous System: Controls body functions through electrical signals.
- Circulatory System: Transports nutrients and oxygen; removes waste.
- Respiratory System: Facilitates gas exchange (oxygen in, carbon dioxide out).

Microorganisms: Includes bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa; essential for decomposition, fermentation, and nutrient cycling.
Pathogens: Disease-causing microorganisms; can be bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites.
Antibiotics: Medications that inhibit bacterial growth; ineffective against viruses.

Photosynthesis: Process by which green plants use sunlight to synthesize foods from carbon dioxide and water.
Plant Structure: Roots (absorb water/nutrients), stems (support/transport), leaves (photosynthesis).
Reproductive Strategies: Asexual (e.g., budding, fragmentation) and sexual (pollination, seed formation).

Animal Classification: Based on characteristics (e.g., mammals, birds, reptiles).
Behavioral Adaptations: Actions animals take to survive (e.g., migration, hibernation).
Reproductive Strategies: Sexual and asexual reproduction methods in animals.

Genetic Engineering: Manipulating an organism's genome to achieve desired traits.
CRISPR: A revolutionary gene-editing technology allowing precise modifications in DNA.
Applications: Medicine, agriculture, and environmental conservation.

All living organisms consist of cells, underpinning cell theory which postulates that the cell is the fundamental unit of life and originates from pre-existing cells.
Prokaryotic cells are characterized by the absence of a nucleus and simpler structure, commonly represented by bacteria.
Eukaryotic cells possess a nucleus and feature a more complex structure, exemplified by plant and animal cells.

DNA is structured as a double helix, composed of nucleotides: adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G).
Genes are specific segments of DNA that code for proteins, serving as the basis for hereditary traits belonging to organisms.
Mendelian inheritance refers to the patterns where traits are determined by dominant and recessive alleles, which segregate independently during reproduction.

Natural selection is a mechanism where organisms that are better adapted to their environments are more likely to survive and reproduce, leading to evolution.
Speciation is the evolutionary process through which new and distinct species arise.
Evidence supporting evolution comes from fossil records, comparative anatomy, and findings in molecular biology.

Ecosystems comprise various communities of living organisms interacting with each other and their physical environments.
Food chains and food webs illustrate the flow of energy within ecosystems, starting with producers like plants, followed by consumers (herbivores and carnivores), and ending with decomposers.
Biomes are large ecological areas defined by specific climates and the types of organisms that inhabit them, including deserts and forests.

Homeostasis is the regulatory process that maintains stable internal conditions in an organism, even when external environments change.
The nervous system coordinates body functions by transmitting electrical signals.
The circulatory system is responsible for transporting nutrients and oxygen throughout the body while removing waste products.
The respiratory system enables gas exchange, allowing oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide elimination.

Microorganisms encompass bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa, playing crucial roles in decomposition, fermentation, and nutrient cycling.
Pathogens are microorganisms that can cause diseases; they may include bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites.
Antibiotics are specialized medications that inhibit bacterial growth but are ineffective against viral infections.

Photosynthesis is the biological process by which green plants convert sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water into food.
Plant structures are specialized: roots absorb water and nutrients, stems provide support and transport, while leaves are the sites of photosynthesis.
Reproductive strategies in plants include asexual methods such as budding and fragmentation, as well as sexual methods like pollination and seed formation.

Animal classification categorizes species based on distinctive characteristics such as mammals, birds, and reptiles.
Behavioral adaptations are survival mechanisms exhibited by animals, including migration and hibernation.
Animals utilize both sexual and asexual reproduction strategies to propagate their species.

Genetic engineering involves the manipulation of an organism's genome to produce desired traits or characteristics.
CRISPR technology is an advanced gene-editing tool that allows precise alterations in DNA sequences.
Applications of biotechnology are vast, impacting fields such as medicine, agriculture, and environmental conservation.