Biology 101

Biology

The scientific study of life.

Natural Science

A field of science that studies the natural world, encompassing various disciplines including biology.

Unifying Themes

Key concepts that connect different areas of biology into a coherent field.

Cells

The basic structural and functional units of all organisms that process hereditary information.

Hereditary Information

Genetic information encoded in genes that can be transmitted to future generations.

Evolution

A major theme in biology that explains the unity and diversity of life.

Energy Processing

The ability of organisms to convert energy for movement, growth, and reproduction.

Internal Regulation

The capacity of organisms to maintain stable internal environments.

Levels of Organization

Different scales at which biologists study life, from molecular biology to anatomy and physiology.

Subdisciplines

Various branches of biology defined by specific research questions and methodologies.

Scientific Method

A systematic approach used by biologists to make observations, pose questions, generate hypotheses, perform experiments, and draw conclusions.

Biodiversity

The variety of life forms on Earth, including prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms.

Prokaryotic Organisms

Simple, unicellular organisms without a nucleus, such as archaea and bacteria.

Eukaryotic Organisms

More complex organisms with a nucleus, including protists, fungi, plants, and animals.

Ecosystem

A community of living organisms interacting with their biophysical environment, where each organism plays a specialized role in nutrient and energy cycling.