Biology Topics Review

Ecology

• Study of the relationships between organisms and their environment
• Focuses on the interactions between living organisms (biotic factors) and non-living components (abiotic factors) in an ecosystem
• Key concepts:
  • Ecosystem: a community of living and non-living components interacting with each other
  • Biodiversity: the variety of species, genes, and ecosystems in an environment
  • Ecological niche: the unique role and position of a species in its environment
  • Food webs: networks of predator-prey relationships
  • Energy flow: the transfer of energy from one trophic level to another

Biotechnology

• The application of biological principles to develop new products, technologies, and processes
• Involves the use of biological systems, living organisms, or derivatives to make or modify products
• Key concepts:
  • Genetic engineering: the manipulation of an organism's genome to introduce new traits
  • Recombinant DNA technology: the use of DNA molecules from different sources to create new DNA sequences
  • Cloning: the creation of an exact copy of an organism or DNA sequence
  • Bioproducts: products derived from biological sources, such as enzymes, vaccines, and pharmaceuticals

Human Physiology

• The study of the functions and processes that occur within the human body
• Focuses on the maintenance of homeostasis and the regulation of bodily functions
• Key concepts:
  • Homeostasis: the maintenance of a stable internal environment despite changes in the external environment
  • Organ systems: groups of organs that work together to perform specific functions
  • Nervous system: the system responsible for transmitting and processing information
  • Endocrine system: the system responsible for producing and regulating hormones
  • Circulatory system: the system responsible for transporting oxygen and nutrients to cells and removing waste products

Plant Physiology

• The study of the functions and processes that occur within plants
• Focuses on the growth, development, and responses of plants to their environment
• Key concepts:
  • Photosynthesis: the process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy
  • Respiration: the process by which plants break down glucose to produce energy
  • Transpiration: the process by which plants transport water and nutrients from roots to leaves
  • Hormone regulation: the role of plant hormones in regulating growth and development
  • Defense mechanisms: the ways in which plants respond to pathogens and environmental stressors

Genetics

• The study of heredity and variation in organisms
• Focuses on the transmission and expression of genetic information
• Key concepts:
  • DNA: the molecule that contains the genetic information of an organism
  • Genes: the units of heredity that encode specific traits
  • Alleles: different forms of a gene that occupy the same position on a chromosome
  • Genotype: the genetic makeup of an organism
  • Phenotype: the physical and behavioral traits expressed by an organism
  • Inheritance patterns: the ways in which genetic traits are passed from one generation to the next