Cell Biology Fundamentals

Study Notes

Cell Biology

Plasma membrane functions as a semi-permeable barrier, controlling substance exchange.
Cytoplasm, a jelly-like fluid, accommodates organelles within the cell.
Nucleus houses DNA, governing cellular growth and reproduction.
Mitochondria are the cell's energy powerhouses, facilitating cellular respiration.

Cellular Processes

Metabolism encompasses all enzymatic reactions within cells.
Photosynthesis allows plants to transform sunlight into chemical energy.
Cell division yields two daughter cells, ensuring genetic continuity.

Cell Signaling

Cell communication is mediated through signaling molecules, such as hormones and neurotransmitters.
Signaling enables cells to adapt to environmental changes.

Genetics

Mendelian genetics established foundational laws, including segregation and independent assortment.
Punnett Squares are tools for predicting offspring trait probabilities.
DNA structures feature a double helix formed by nucleotides: adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine.
Genes are DNA sequences coding for proteins, while gene expression converts genetic information into functional proteins.
Genetic variation arises from mutations, genetic drift, and gene flow among populations.

Ecology

Ecosystems comprise communities, habitats, and niches, defining species interactions and roles.
Energy flow involves producers who harness sunlight, consumers who feed on others, and decomposers that recycle organic matter.
Population dynamics are affected by growth rates, carrying capacity, and limiting factors like resources and space.

Microbiology

Microorganisms include prokaryotic bacteria, parasitic viruses, and eukaryotic fungi.
Microbial ecology examines symbiotic relationships, such as mutualism and parasitism, along with process decomposition and fermentation.
Microbial pathogenesis explores infection mechanisms, disease responses, and the host immune defenses against microorganisms.

Evolution

Evolutionary mechanisms include natural selection, genetic drift, gene flow, and mutations that create genetic variations.
Evidence for evolution is found in the fossil record, comparative anatomy, and molecular biology studies of DNA and RNA.
Phylogeny illustrates evolutionary relationships through the tree of life and employs cladistics to classify organisms based on shared traits.

Description

Learn about the basics of cell biology, including cell structure and cellular processes such as metabolism, photosynthesis, and cell division. Understand the functions of cell components like plasma membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus, and mitochondria.