Biološke Molekuli i Ćelijska Struktura

Biological molecules are the fundamental building blocks of life, made up of carbon and other elements, and categorized into carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
Carbohydrates are composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, and serve as a primary source of energy. Examples include sugars (glucose, fructose) and starches.
Lipids are primarily composed of carbon and hydrogen, insoluble in water, and function as energy storage, insulation, and structural components of cell membranes. Examples include fats, oils, and steroids.
Proteins are polymers of amino acids, crucial for various functions, including enzymes, hormones, structural components, and transport.
Nucleic acids, DNA and RNA, store and transmit genetic information. DNA carries the instructions for protein synthesis, while RNA plays a crucial role in protein synthesis itself.

Cells are the basic units of life, exhibiting diverse structures and functions.
Prokaryotic cells lack a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles. Bacteria are a prime example.
Eukaryotic cells possess a nucleus and various membrane-bound organelles, like mitochondria (energy production) and the endoplasmic reticulum (protein synthesis and modification). Animal and plant cells are examples.
Cell membranes are selectively permeable, controlling the passage of substances into and out of the cell.
Cytoplasm is the jelly-like substance filling the cell, containing organelles and supporting cellular activities.
Nucleus contains the cell's genetic material (DNA), directing cellular activities.
Ribosomes synthesize proteins.

Metabolism encompasses all the chemical reactions occurring within a cell, crucial for maintaining life. Two types include catabolism, which is the breakdown of molecules, and anabolism, which is the synthesis of molecules.
Cellular respiration is the process of breaking down glucose to release energy in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), a universal energy currency for cells.
Photosynthesis is the process by which plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize sugars from carbon dioxide and water.
Cell division (mitosis and meiosis) is essential for growth, repair, and reproduction. Mitosis creates identical copies of cells, while meiosis produces gametes (sex cells) with half the number of chromosomes.

Genes are segments of DNA that code for specific proteins or traits.
DNA replication is the accurate duplication of DNA prior to cell division.
Transcription is the process of creating RNA from DNA, with RNA serving as a messenger for protein synthesis.
Translation is the process of decoding the RNA message to produce a protein.
Mutations are alterations in the DNA sequence and can lead to different traits or genetic disorders.
DNA recombination is the process where DNA segments exchange information between molecules or within a molecule. This is vital for diversity and adaptation.
Chromosomes are structures containing tightly packed DNA and proteins, essential for organizing and segregating genetic material during cell division.

Ecology explores the interactions between organisms and their environment.
Ecosystems comprise living organisms (biotic components) and non-living components (abiotic components) interacting as a functional unit. Examples include forests, deserts, and oceans.
Food webs represent the feeding relationships between organisms in an ecosystem.
Population dynamics studies the factors affecting population size and growth, like birth rate, death rate, and migration.
Species interactions include competition, predation, symbiosis (mutualism, commensalism, parasitism), and can profoundly shape community structure and biodiversity.
Biodiversity includes the variety of life at all levels, from genes to ecosystems. High biodiversity enhances ecosystem resilience and stability.

Evolution is a change in the heritable characteristics of biological populations over successive generations.
Natural selection is a mechanism of evolution, where organisms with traits better suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce.
Adaptation is a trait that enhances an organism's survival and reproduction in a specific environment.
Speciation is the process by which new species arise, often due to geographic isolation or genetic divergence.
Phylogeny depicts evolutionary relationships among organisms using branching diagrams called phylogenetic trees. These trees show common ancestry and evolutionary descent.
Common ancestry explains the relatedness between species through shared evolutionary history.

Taxonomy is the science of classifying and naming organisms.
Organisms are grouped into domains (Bacteria, Archaea, Eukarya) based on fundamental characteristics.
- Within each domain, organisms are classified into kingdoms and phyla, then classes, orders, families, genera, and species, in hierarchical order.
Binomial nomenclature, using two names, (e.g., Homo sapiens) is the universally accepted system for naming species.
Key characteristics are used to distinguish between different taxa.

Human biology encompasses the study of human anatomy, physiology, genetics, and evolution.
Human physiology explores the functions of organs and systems like the digestive, respiratory, circulatory, and nervous systems.
Human genetics investigates the role of genes in human diseases and traits.