Overview of Biology Branches

Cell: basic unit of life
Cellular components:
- Nucleus: contains genetic material (DNA)
- Mitochondria: site of cellular respiration
- Endoplasmic reticulum: involved in protein synthesis and transport
- Ribosomes: site of protein synthesis
Cellular processes:
- Photosynthesis: process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy
- Cellular respiration: process by which cells generate energy from glucose
- Mitosis: process of cell division resulting in two identical daughter cells

DNA: double-stranded molecule containing genetic information
Genes: units of heredity that carry information from one generation to the next
Traits: characteristics determined by genes
Inheritance patterns:
- Dominant and recessive alleles
- Mendel's laws of inheritance ( segregation, independent assortment)

Theory of evolution: explains diversity of life on Earth
Mechanisms of evolution:
- Natural selection: process by which individuals with favorable traits are more likely to survive and reproduce
- Genetic drift: random change in gene frequency
- Mutation: change in DNA sequence
- Gene flow: movement of genes from one population to another
Evidence for evolution:
- Fossil record
- Comparative anatomy and embryology
- Molecular biology

Levels of organization:
- Individual: single organism
- Population: group of individuals of the same species
- Community: group of populations of different species
- Ecosystem: community and its environment
- Biosphere: all ecosystems on Earth
Interactions between organisms:
- Predator-prey relationships
- Competition for resources
- Symbiotic relationships (mutualism, commensalism, parasitism)
Ecosystem services:
- Provisioning (food, water, etc.)
- Regulating (climate, disease, etc.)
- Cultural (recreation, education, etc.)

Botany involves the study of plants and their characteristics.
Zoology is the study of animals, including their structure, behavior, and evolution.
Microbiology explores microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, and fungi, and their impact on the environment and human health.
Ecology examines the interactions between organisms and their environment, including the effects of human activities on ecosystems.
Biochemistry delves into the chemical processes that occur within living organisms, such as metabolism and DNA replication.
Molecular Biology investigates the structure, function, and interactions of biological molecules, like proteins and nucleic acids.
Genetics is concerned with heredity and variation, including the transmission of traits from one generation to the next.
Evolutionary Biology seeks to understand the evolution and diversity of life on Earth.

The cell is the basic unit of life, and all living organisms are composed of one or more cells.
The nucleus is a critical cellular component that contains an organism's genetic material, or DNA.
Mitochondria are organelles found in cells that generate energy through cellular respiration.
The endoplasmic reticulum plays a crucial role in protein synthesis and transport within cells.
Ribosomes are responsible for protein synthesis, reading messenger RNA sequences and assembling amino acids into polypeptide chains.
Photosynthesis is the process by which plants and some microorganisms convert light energy into chemical energy.
Cellular respiration is the process by which cells generate energy from glucose, releasing carbon dioxide and water as byproducts.
Mitosis is the process of cell division resulting in two identical daughter cells, each with the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell.

DNA is a double-stranded molecule that contains an organism's genetic information, providing instructions for development and function.
Genes are units of heredity that carry information from one generation to the next, determining an organism's traits.
Traits are characteristics determined by genes, such as eye color, hair color, or height.
Inheritance patterns involve the transmission of genes from parents to offspring, following Mendel's laws of inheritance, including segregation and independent assortment.
Dominant and recessive alleles are versions of a gene that have a different effect on an organism's phenotype.

The theory of evolution provides a comprehensive explanation for the diversity of life on Earth, proposing that all species share a common ancestor.
Natural selection is the process by which individuals with favorable traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing their advantageous characteristics to their offspring.
Genetic drift is the random change in gene frequency in a population over time, often due to chance events.
Mutation is a change in DNA sequence, resulting in new alleles or altered gene function.
Gene flow is the movement of genes from one population to another, increasing genetic diversity.
The fossil record provides evidence for evolution, with fossils of ancient organisms showing characteristics of both modern and extinct species.
Comparative anatomy and embryology also support evolution, with similar structures and developmental pathways found across different species.
Molecular biology, including DNA and protein sequences, confirms the relatedness of different species.

Ecological studies examine the levels of organization, from individual organisms to the biosphere, considering the interactions and interconnectedness of living systems.
Individuals are single organisms, such as a single tree or animal.
Populations are groups of individuals of the same species, like a flock of birds or a school of fish.
Communities are composed of populations of different species, like a forest ecosystem with trees, insects, and animals.
Ecosystems include the community and its environment, such as a coral reef with fish, seaweed, and water.
The biosphere encompasses all ecosystems on Earth, encompassing the entire range of environments and living systems.
Interactions between organisms include predator-prey relationships, competition for resources, and symbiotic relationships like mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism.
Ecosystem services are essential functions provided by ecosystems, including provisioning (food, water, etc.), regulating (climate, disease, etc.), and cultural (recreation, education, etc.) services.