Cell Biology and Genetics Quiz

Cell Biology

• 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: No nucleus, smaller, simpler (e.g., bacteria).
  • Eukaryotic: Nucleus present, larger, complex (e.g., plants, animals).

Genetics

• DNA Structure: Double helix composed of nucleotides (adenine, thymine, cytosine, guanine).
• Genotype vs. Phenotype: Genotype refers to the genetic makeup; phenotype is the observable characteristics.
• Mendelian Genetics: Principles of inheritance discovered by Gregor Mendel, including dominant and recessive traits.

Evolution

• Natural Selection: Process where organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and reproduce.
• Speciation: Formation of new and distinct species in the course of evolution.
• Fossil Record: Provides evidence for evolution, showing changes in species over time.

Ecology

• Ecosystem: A community of living organisms interacting with their environment.
• Food Chains/Webs:
  • Producers: Organisms that produce energy (e.g., plants).
  • Consumers: Organisms that consume energy (e.g., herbivores, carnivores).
  • Decomposers: Organisms that break down dead matter (e.g., fungi, bacteria).

Human Biology

• Body Systems:
  • Circulatory System: Transports nutrients, gases, and wastes.
  • Respiratory System: Responsible for gas exchange (oxygen and carbon dioxide).
  • Digestive System: Breaks down food and absorbs nutrients.
• Homeostasis: The maintenance of a stable internal environment.

Plant Biology

• Photosynthesis: Process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy (glucose).
• Plant Structures:
  • Roots: Anchor plants and absorb water/nutrients.
  • Stems: Support and transport materials.
  • Leaves: Main site of photosynthesis.

Microbiology

• Bacteria: Prokaryotic microorganisms, can be beneficial or pathogenic.
• Viruses: Acellular entities that require a host cell to replicate.

Biochemistry

• Macromolecules:
  • Carbohydrates: Energy sources and structural components.
  • Proteins: Made up of amino acids; essential for structure and function.
  • Lipids: Fats and oils; important for cell membranes and energy storage.
  • Nucleic Acids: DNA and RNA; involved in genetic information storage and transfer.

Biotechnology

• Genetic Engineering: Manipulation of an organism’s genome using biotechnology.
• CRISPR-Cas9: A revolutionary gene-editing technology.

Evolutionary Biology

• Theory of Evolution: Explains the diversity of life and adaptation through descent with modification.
• Genetic Drift: Change in the frequency of a gene variant in a population due to random sampling.

These notes summarize essential concepts in biology, providing a foundational understanding of the field.

Cell Biology

• Cell Theory states that all living organisms are made up of cells, which are the basic units of life. All cells originate from pre-existing cells.
• Prokaryotic cells lack a nucleus and are generally smaller and simpler than eukaryotic cells. Examples include bacteria.
• Eukaryotic cells have a nucleus, are larger and more complex, and are found in organisms such as plants and animals.

Genetics

• DNA is a double helix molecule composed of nucleotides, which are made up of a sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base: adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine.
• Genotype refers to the genetic makeup of an organism, while phenotype refers to the observable characteristics.
• Mendelian Genetics describes the principles of inheritance discovered by Gregor Mendel, including the concepts of dominant and recessive traits.

Evolution

• Natural Selection is a process where organisms better adapted to their environment survive and reproduce more successfully.
• Speciation is the formation of new species due to evolutionary processes leading to reproductive isolation and genetic divergence.
• The Fossil Record provides evidence for evolution, showing changes in species over time through the preserved remains of ancient organisms.

Ecology

• An Ecosystem is a community of living organisms interacting with their physical environment.
• Food Chains/Webs depict energy flow within an ecosystem:
  • Producers such as plants convert light energy into chemical energy.
  • Consumers obtain energy by consuming other organisms (e.g., herbivores, carnivores).
  • Decomposers break down dead matter and recycle nutrients (e.g., fungi, bacteria).

Human Biology

• Body Systems work together to maintain life:
  • Circulatory System transports oxygen, nutrients, and waste throughout the body.
  • Respiratory System is responsible for gas exchange (oxygen intake and carbon dioxide release).
  • Digestive System breaks down food and absorbs nutrients.
• Homeostasis is the maintenance of a stable internal environment within an organism.

Plant Biology

• Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy (glucose) using chlorophyll.
• Plant Structures have specific functions:
  • Roots anchor the plant and absorb water and nutrients.
  • Stems provide support and transport materials.
  • Leaves are the primary sites of photosynthesis.

Microbiology

• Bacteria are single-celled prokaryotic microorganisms that can be beneficial or pathogenic.
• Viruses are acellular entities that require a host cell to replicate.

Biochemistry

• Macromolecules are large complex organic molecules:
  • Carbohydrates are energy sources and structural components (e.g., sugars, starches).
  • Proteins are made of amino acids and essential for structure and function.
  • Lipids are fats and oils involved in cell membranes and energy storage.
  • Nucleic Acids (DNA and RNA) are responsible for storing and transferring genetic information.

Biotechnology

• Genetic Engineering involves the manipulation of an organism's genes using biotechnology.
• CRISPR-Cas9 is a revolutionary gene-editing technology that enables precise modifications to DNA sequences.

Evolutionary Biology

• The Theory of Evolution explains the diversity of life and adaptation through descent with modification.
• Genetic Drift is a random change in the frequency of gene variants in a population.