Biology

What is biology?

Biology is the natural science that studies life and living organisms, including their physical structure, chemical processes, molecular interactions, physiological mechanisms, development, and evolution.

What are the characteristics of living organisms?

Living organisms typically exhibit several key characteristics: order, sensitivity or response to stimuli, reproduction, adaptation, growth and development, regulation/homeostasis, and energy processing.

What is the basic unit of life?

The cell is the basic structural, functional, and biological unit of all known organisms. Cells are often called the 'building blocks of life'.

Distinguish between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.

Prokaryotic cells are simpler, lack a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles (e.g., bacteria, archaea). Eukaryotic cells are more complex, possessing a nucleus and other organelles (e.g., animal, plant, fungal, protist cells).

What is biology?

Biology is the natural science that studies life and living organisms, including their physical structure, chemical processes, molecular interactions, physiological mechanisms, development, and evolution.

What are the characteristics of living organisms?

Living organisms typically exhibit several key characteristics: order, sensitivity or response to stimuli, reproduction, adaptation, growth and development, regulation/homeostasis, and energy processing.

What is the basic unit of life?

The cell is the basic structural, functional, and biological unit of all known organisms. Cells are often called the 'building blocks of life'.

Distinguish between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.

Prokaryotic cells are simpler, lack a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles (e.g., bacteria, archaea). Eukaryotic cells are more complex, possessing a nucleus and other organelles (e.g., animal, plant, fungal, protist cells).

What are the biological levels of organization, from simplest to most complex?

The levels of biological organization are:

1. Chemical Level: Atoms, molecules (e.g., DNA, proteins)
2. Organelle Level: Structures within cells (e.g., mitochondria, nucleus)
3. Cellular Level: The basic unit of life (e.g., muscle cell, nerve cell)
4. Tissue Level: Groups of similar cells working together (e.g., connective tissue, nervous tissue)
5. Organ Level: Collections of tissues forming a functional unit (e.g., heart, brain)
6. Organ System Level: Group of organs working together (e.g., digestive system, circulatory system)
7. Organismal Level: An individual living being
8. Population Level: A group of organisms of the same species in a specific area
9. Community Level: Different populations interacting in an area
10. Ecosystem Level: All living things in an area interacting with their physical environment
11. Biosphere Level: All ecosystems on Earth

What is adaptation in biology?

Adaptation is a heritable trait that aids the survival and reproduction of an organism in its present environment. It arises through natural selection over generations.