Introduction to Biology

Definition and Scope

• Biology is the scientific study of life and 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
• Biochemistry: study of chemical processes in living organisms
• Molecular Biology: study of biological molecules and their interactions
• Genetics: study of heredity and variation
• Evolutionary Biology: study of evolutionary processes and history of life on Earth

Cell Biology

• Cell: basic unit of life, made up of cell membrane, cytoplasm, and genetic material
• Cellular organelles: mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, ribosomes, lysosomes, etc.
• Cellular processes: metabolism, photosynthesis, cell division, cell signaling, etc.

Genetics

• DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid): genetic material that carries genetic information
• Genes: segments of DNA that code for specific traits
• Traits: characteristics of an organism determined by genes and environment
• Inheritance patterns: dominant, recessive, codominant, polygenic, etc.

Evolution

• Theory of Evolution: explains diversity of life on Earth through natural selection, genetic drift, mutation, and gene flow
• Mechanisms of Evolution: mutation, gene flow, genetic drift, natural selection
• Evidence for Evolution: fossil record, comparative anatomy, molecular biology, biogeography

Ecology

• Ecosystem: community of organisms and their environment
• Energy flow: producers, consumers, decomposers
• Nutrient cycles: water, carbon, nitrogen, etc.
• Population dynamics: growth, decline, regulation, and interactions between populations

Definition and Scope

• Biology is the scientific study of life and living organisms, covering 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.
• Biochemistry is the study of chemical processes in living organisms.
• Molecular Biology is the study of biological molecules and their interactions.
• Genetics is the study of heredity and variation.
• Evolutionary Biology is the study of evolutionary processes and the history of life on Earth.

Cell Biology

• The cell is the basic unit of life, composed of a cell membrane, cytoplasm, and genetic material.
• Cellular organelles include mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, ribosomes, lysosomes, and others.
• Cellular processes include metabolism, photosynthesis, cell division, cell signaling, and more.

Genetics

• DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) is the genetic material that carries genetic information.
• Genes are segments of DNA that code for specific traits.
• Traits are characteristics of an organism determined by genes and environment.
• Inheritance patterns include dominant, recessive, codominant, and polygenic.

Evolution

• The Theory of Evolution explains the diversity of life on Earth through natural selection, genetic drift, mutation, and gene flow.
• Mechanisms of Evolution include mutation, gene flow, genetic drift, and natural selection.
• Evidence for Evolution comes from the fossil record, comparative anatomy, molecular biology, and biogeography.

Ecology

• An ecosystem is a community of organisms and their environment.
• Energy flow occurs through producers, consumers, and decomposers.
• Nutrient cycles include water, carbon, nitrogen, and others.
• Population dynamics involve growth, decline, regulation, and interactions between populations.