Introduction to Biology

Biology

Definition: The study of living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy.

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

Key Concepts:

• Cells: Basic units of life, composed of cell membrane, cytoplasm, and genetic material
• DNA: Genetic material that contains instructions for development and function
• Evolution: Process of change in species over time through natural selection and genetic drift
• Ecosystems: Communities of living and non-living components interacting with each other
• Homeostasis: Ability of organisms to maintain a stable internal environment despite changes in external conditions

Biological Molecules:

• Carbohydrates: Energy-rich molecules, e.g., sugars, starches, and cellulose
• Proteins: Molecules composed of amino acids, involved in structure, function, and regulation
• Lipids: Molecules involved in energy storage, e.g., fats, oils, and steroids
• Nucleic Acids: Molecules that contain genetic information, e.g., DNA and RNA

Biological Processes:

• Photosynthesis: Process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy
• Respiration: Process by which cells convert glucose into energy
• Metabolism: Set of chemical reactions that occur within cells to maintain life
• Nutrition: Process by which organisms obtain and utilize nutrients for growth and maintenance

Biology

• Biology is the study of living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy.

Branches of Biology

• Botany is the study of plants
• Zoology is the study of animals
• Microbiology is the study of microorganisms
• Ecology is the study of interactions between organisms and their environment
• Genetics is the study of heredity and variation
• Biochemistry is the study of chemical processes in living organisms

Key Concepts

Cells

• Cells are the basic units of life, composed of cell membrane, cytoplasm, and genetic material

DNA

• DNA is the genetic material that contains instructions for development and function

Evolution

• Evolution is the process of change in species over time through natural selection and genetic drift

Ecosystems

• Ecosystems are communities of living and non-living components interacting with each other

Homeostasis

• Homeostasis is the ability of organisms to maintain a stable internal environment despite changes in external conditions

Biological Molecules

Carbohydrates

• Carbohydrates are energy-rich molecules, e.g., sugars, starches, and cellulose

Proteins

• Proteins are molecules composed of amino acids, involved in structure, function, and regulation

Lipids

• Lipids are molecules involved in energy storage, e.g., fats, oils, and steroids

Nucleic Acids

• Nucleic acids are molecules that contain genetic information, e.g., DNA and RNA

Biological Processes

Photosynthesis

• Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy

Respiration

• Respiration is the process by which cells convert glucose into energy

Metabolism

• Metabolism is the set of chemical reactions that occur within cells to maintain life

Nutrition

• Nutrition is the process by which organisms obtain and utilize nutrients for growth and maintenance