Branches of Biology

Ciencia (Science)

• Science from the latin "Scientia" means knowledge.
• Science is the body of knowledge that has been obtained through observation and systematic reasoning.
• This reduces to general principles and laws.

Biologia (Biology)

• Biology comes from the greek roots "bios" meaning life, and "logos" meaning study
• Biology refers to the study of life.
• Biology is a science that focuses on the structural organization and functioning of living things, whether current or fossils.

Ramas de la Biología (Branches of Biology)

• Botanica concentrates on organisms that are the base for every food chain.
• Botanica organisms also produces food and oxygen, that then cycles back into the atmosphere.
• Zoologia studies the consumers of the food chain.
• Microbiologia studies microbes and microorganisms
• Includes the decomposers of the food chain, Eukaryotas, and procariotas
• Procariotas are cells without a nucleus.
• viruses although aren't alive are also studied.
• Anatomia studies the structure, location, and relationship between the parts of the body.
• Bioquimica studies the composition and chemical processes that occur in living beings.
• Citologia studies the structure, composition, and function of cells.
• Ecologia studies the relationship of organisms between themselves and with their environment.
• Genetica studies the phenomoenon of biological heredity and variation.
• Paleontologia studies the fossil remains of organisms.
• Parasitologia studies parasitic organisms.

Importancia de la Ciencia y la Biologia (Importance of Science and Biology)

• Prevent, treat, and cure illnesses.
• Develop industries that use plant and animal products.
• purify the contaminated waters.
• Know the structure and function of the body to preserve health.
• Elaborate antibiotics and medicines.
• Produce vaccines and hormones.
• Production of transgenic plants that are resistant to plagues and produce rapid growth is soils that are not adequate.
• know other planets and forms of life.
• Elevate the quality of life for people through adequate, non contaminated eating habits, and a non contaminated enviroment.

Other branches of biology include:

• Taxonomia classifies organisms.
• Fisiologia studies the functions of organisms.
• Embriologia studies the formation and development of the embroyn.
• Evolucion focuses on the origin and transformation of living things across time.

Moléculas Constituyentes de la Materia Viva (Constituent Molecules of Living Matter)

• All matter is formed by atoms that are elements.
• The combination of these atoms create molecules, which form chemical compounds.
• Organic compounds are the primary constituents of cells and tissues.
• They participate in metabolic reactions, transmit information, and are a source of energy for biological processes.

The most important molecules are:

• Carbohydrates
• Lipids
• Proteins
• Nucleic acids
• Hormones
• Vitamins

Carbohidratos (Carbohydrates)

• Carbohydrates are formed by 3 elements: carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O)
• Carbohydrates are abundant in nature
• Carbohydrates are considered a primary source of energy.

Classification de los Carbohidratos (Classification of Carbohydrates)

• Monosaccharides are the simplest carbohydrates.
• Examples of monosaccharides are glucose, fructose, galactose, ribose, and deoxyribose.
• Disaccharides are formed by two monosaccharides that are equal or different.
• Common disaccharides include sucrose, lactose, and maltose.
• Polysaccharides are the most abundant carbohydrates.
• Common polysaccharides include starches, glucogen, celluose, and quiquina.

Lipidos (Lipids)

• Lipids are a heterogeneous group of organic compounds formed by: carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O).
• Some also have: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and sulfur (S)

Funciones de los Lipidos (Lipid Functions)

• Lipids serve as a primary energy reserve within the organism in the form of fats and fatty acids.
• Lipids are a structural component of cellular membranes and provide consistency.
• As a transporter, lipids use the emulsion of liquids by billiard acids and other similar compounds.
• Emulsion allows transport by blood and lymph from the intenstines to the spot of use.
• Lipids can be stored in the lympho adypocyte (fatty tissue) to be stored.
• As a catalyst, lipids facilitate chemical reactions in living beings.

Los lipidos de mayor importancia biologica son (most important biological lipids)

• fats
• phospholipids
• carotenoids
• steroids
• waxes

Grasas (Fats)

• Fats are the most abundant in living beings and are a way of storing food reserves.
• Fats generate more than twice the energy per gram that carbohydrates do.
• Both proteins and carbohydrates can turn into fats.
• These store up in fat cells, in adypose tissue where they serve as an isolator against the loss of body heat.
• There are two types of principal fatty acids: saturated and insaturated.
• The saturated fatty acids produce solid fats at room temperature, and are from animal foods.
• Animal origin foods are red meats, butter, and some plant originate like palm oil and coconut.
• Unsaturated fatty acids form liquid oils at room temperature.
• saturated fats can be monounsaturated or polyunsaturated.
• Monounsaturated fats are olive oil.
• Polyunsaturated fats can be found in dry fruits like peanuts, avacados, and their oils.

Other Lipids

• Phospholipids are a major component of cell membranes.
• Phospholipids are needed for the transport of substances with different degrees of polarity.
• Carotenoids are organic and liposoluble pigments with an oil consistancy that become synthesized
• Steroids are lipids derived from the perhydrofenantreno compound.
• Waxes are simple, insoluble lipids in water, and solid at room temp
• Waxes moldable esters of fatty acids with long chains of alcohol.