What is Biology?
Biology is the study of life and living organisms. It explores how life forms work, reproduce, evolve, and interact with their environment.
Major Areas of Biology:
- Cell Biology - Study of cells, the basic units of life
- Genetics - Study of heredity and DNA
- Evolution - Study of how species change over time
- Ecology - Study of relationships between organisms and environment
- Physiology - Study of how living systems function
Characteristics of Life:
🔬 Cellular Organization: All living things are made of cells
⚡ Metabolism: Living things use energy for life processes
🌱 Growth: Living organisms grow and develop
👶 Reproduction: Living things produce offspring
🧬 Heredity: Traits are passed from parents to offspring
🔄 Response: Living things respond to their environment
📈 Evolution: Populations change over time
Photosynthesis Equation:
6CO₂ + 6H₂O + light energy → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂
Your Biology Journey
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Cell Structure and Function
Cells are the basic units of life. All living things are made of one or more cells.
Types of Cells:
- Prokaryotic: No nucleus (bacteria)
- Eukaryotic: Has nucleus (plants, animals, fungi)
Main Cell Organelles:
- Nucleus: Controls cell activities
- Mitochondria: Produces energy (ATP)
- Ribosomes: Makes proteins
- Chloroplasts: Conducts photosynthesis (plants only)
- Cell Membrane: Controls what enters/exits cell
Interactive Cell Diagram
Click on organelles in the cell diagram to learn about their functions!
What organelle produces energy for the cell?
DNA and Genetics
DNA contains the instructions for life. It's made of four bases: Adenine (A), Thymine (T), Cytosine (C), and Guanine (G).
DNA Base Pairing Rules:
- A pairs with T
- C pairs with G
Genetic Terms:
- Gene: A section of DNA that codes for a trait
- Chromosome: Structure containing many genes
- Allele: Different versions of the same gene
- Genotype: Genetic makeup (AA, Aa, aa)
- Phenotype: Observable traits
DNA Base Pairing
Click on bases to see their complementary pairs:
A
T
C
G
A
C
G
T
Click bases above to reveal complementary strand
If one DNA strand has the sequence ATCG, what is the complementary strand?
Classification of Life
Scientists classify living things into groups based on shared characteristics. This helps us understand relationships between different organisms.
Taxonomic Hierarchy (from largest to smallest):
Kingdom
├─ Phylum
├─ Class
├─ Order
├─ Family
├─ Genus
└─ Species
Five Kingdoms:
- Monera: Bacteria (prokaryotes)
- Protista: Single-celled eukaryotes
- Fungi: Mushrooms, yeasts, molds
- Plantae: Plants
- Animalia: Animals
Classify These Organisms
Selected organism will appear here: None
Which kingdom does a mushroom belong to?
Ecosystems and Interactions
An ecosystem includes all living things (biotic factors) and non-living things (abiotic factors) in an area and how they interact.
Energy Flow in Ecosystems:
- Producers: Make their own food (plants)
- Primary Consumers: Eat producers (herbivores)
- Secondary Consumers: Eat primary consumers (carnivores)
- Decomposers: Break down dead organisms (bacteria, fungi)
Types of Relationships:
- Mutualism: Both organisms benefit (+/+)
- Commensalism: One benefits, other unaffected (+/0)
- Parasitism: One benefits, other harmed (+/-)
- Competition: Both organisms compete for resources (-/-)
Ecosystem Simulator
Click on the ecosystem to add organisms:
Population: Plants: 0, Rabbits: 0, Foxes: 0
In a food chain, what do we call organisms that eat plants?
🎯 Biology Practice Test
Test your biology knowledge with questions covering all topics!
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