Branches of Biology and Cell Structure

Branches of Biology

• Botany: study of plants
• Zoology: study of animals
• Microbiology: study of microorganisms
• Ecology: study of interactions between organisms and their environment
• Genetics: study of heredity and variation
• Biochemistry: study of chemical processes in living organisms
• Molecular Biology: study of biological molecules and their interactions

Cell Biology

• Cell Structure:
  • Cell membrane: separates cell from environment
  • Cytoplasm: gel-like substance inside cell membrane
  • Nucleus: contains genetic material
  • Mitochondria: generates energy for cell
• Cellular Processes:
  • Photosynthesis: process by which plants produce energy
  • Respiration: process by which cells generate energy
  • Cell division: process by which cells reproduce

Evolution

• Theory of Evolution: explains how species change over time
  • Natural Selection: process by which organisms with favorable traits are more likely to survive and reproduce
  • Speciation: process by which new species emerge
  • Fossil Record: evidence of evolution through fossilized remains

Ecosystems

• Ecosystem Components:
  • Biotic Factors: living organisms (plants, animals, microorganisms)
  • Abiotic Factors: non-living components (light, temperature, water, soil)
• Ecosystem Interactions:
  • Predation: relationship between predator and prey
  • Symbiosis: relationship between two or more organisms
  • Food Chains: series of organisms that eat other organisms

Biological Molecules

• Carbohydrates: energy-rich molecules (sugars, starches, cellulose)
• Proteins: molecules composed of amino acids (enzymes, hormones, structural proteins)
• Lipids: molecules composed of fatty acids (fats, oils, waxes)
• Nucleic Acids: molecules containing genetic information (DNA, RNA)

Branches of Biology

• Botany studies plants
• Zoology studies animals
• Microbiology studies microorganisms
• Ecology studies interactions between organisms and their environment
• Genetics studies heredity and variation
• Biochemistry studies chemical processes in living organisms
• Molecular Biology studies biological molecules and their interactions

Cell Biology

• Cell membrane separates the cell from the environment
• Cytoplasm is a gel-like substance inside the cell membrane
• Nucleus contains genetic material
• Mitochondria generates energy for the cell
• Photosynthesis is the process by which plants produce energy
• Respiration is the process by which cells generate energy
• Cell division is the process by which cells reproduce

Evolution

• The Theory of Evolution explains how species change over time
• Natural Selection is the process by which organisms with favorable traits are more likely to survive and reproduce
• Speciation is the process by which new species emerge
• The Fossil Record provides evidence of evolution through fossilized remains

Ecosystems

• Biotic factors include living organisms such as plants, animals, and microorganisms
• Abiotic factors include non-living components such as light, temperature, water, and soil
• Predation is the relationship between a predator and its prey
• Symbiosis is the relationship between two or more organisms
• Food Chains are series of organisms that eat other organisms

Biological Molecules

• Carbohydrates are energy-rich molecules including sugars, starches, and cellulose
• Proteins are molecules composed of amino acids and include enzymes, hormones, and structural proteins
• Lipids are molecules composed of fatty acids and include fats, oils, and waxes
• Nucleic Acids are molecules containing genetic information and include DNA and RNA