Introduction to Biology

What is Biology?

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
• Genetics: study of heredity and variation
• Biochemistry: study of chemical processes within living organisms

Levels of Organization

1. Molecules: basic building blocks of life (e.g. carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids)
2. Organelles: specialized structures within cells (e.g. mitochondria, chloroplasts)
3. Cells: basic structural and functional units of life
4. Tissues: groups of similar cells performing specific functions
5. Organs: structures composed of multiple tissues
6. Organ Systems: groups of organs working together to perform specific functions
7. Organisms: individual living beings
8. Populations: groups of organisms of the same species
9. Communities: groups of different species interacting with each other
10. Ecosystems: interactions between living and non-living components of an environment
11. Biosphere: all living components of the Earth

Biological Molecules

• Carbohydrates: energy source for cells (e.g. glucose, starch)
• Proteins: building blocks of tissues (e.g. enzymes, collagen)
• Lipids: energy storage and structural components (e.g. fats, cholesterol)
• Nucleic Acids: genetic material (e.g. DNA, RNA)

Cellular Processes

• Photosynthesis: conversion of light energy into chemical energy
• Cellular Respiration: conversion of chemical energy into ATP
• Mitosis: cell division resulting in two identical daughter cells
• Meiosis: cell division resulting in four non-identical daughter cells

What is Biology?

• Biology is the scientific study of life and 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 within living organisms.

Levels of Organization

• Molecules are the basic building blocks of life, including carbohydrates, proteins, and nucleic acids.
• Organelles are specialized structures within cells, such as mitochondria and chloroplasts.
• Cells are the basic structural and functional units of life.
• Tissues are groups of similar cells performing specific functions.
• Organs are structures composed of multiple tissues.
• Organ Systems are groups of organs working together to perform specific functions.
• Organisms are individual living beings.
• Populations are groups of organisms of the same species.
• Communities are groups of different species interacting with each other.
• Ecosystems are interactions between living and non-living components of an environment.
• The Biosphere includes all living components of the Earth.

Biological Molecules

• Carbohydrates are energy sources for cells, including glucose and starch.
• Proteins are building blocks of tissues, including enzymes and collagen.
• Lipids are energy storage and structural components, including fats and cholesterol.
• Nucleic Acids are genetic material, including DNA and RNA.

Cellular Processes

• Photosynthesis is the conversion of light energy into chemical energy.
• Cellular Respiration is the conversion of chemical energy into ATP.
• Mitosis is cell division resulting in two identical daughter cells.
• Meiosis is cell division resulting in four non-identical daughter cells.