Biodiversity and biotechnology

• Gene theory


  A fundamental concept in biology that explains how traits are passed from parents to offspring. It provides a framework for understanding genetics, heredity, and evolution.
• Genes


  Segments of DNA that contain the instructions for making proteins. Proteins are the building blocks of life and carry out many functions in cells and organisms.
• How genes work

  Genetic information flows from DNA to RNA to proteins
• DNA


  A double-stranded molecule that contains the genetic information of an organism. It is made up of four nucleotides: adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine.
• RNA


  A single-stranded molecule that carries genetic information from DNA to proteins. There are three types: messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA).
• Protein


  The building blocks of life that carry out many functions in cells and organisms. They are made up of chains of amino acids that are folded into specific shapes.
• Transcription


  The process by which DNA is copied into RNA. It occurs in the nucleus of a cell and involves the use of an enzyme called RNA polymerase.
• Translation


  The process by which RNA is used to make proteins. It occurs in the cytoplasm of a cell and involves the use of ribosomes, which read the mRNA sequence and assemble the corresponding amino acids into a protein.
• Biodiversity


  The total variety of life on Earth, measured by variation at the genetic, species, and ecosystem levels.
• Taxonomy


  The scientific study of naming, defining and classifying groups of biological organisms based on shared characteristics.
• Carolus Linnaeus


  Swedish botanist who developed the Systema Naturae, a classification scheme that used morphology to group organisms into hierarchical categories.
• Domains of life


  • Bacteria
  • Archaea
  • Eukarya
• Domain Archaea


  • Microscopic, unicellular prokaryotes that are superficially similar to bacteria but have significant genetic differences. Many are extremophiles.
• Domain Bacteria


  • Microscopic, unicellular prokaryotes. Some species are autotrophs, while others are heterotrophs.
• Domain Eukarya


  • Includes unicellular and multicellular organisms that all have eukaryotic cells, including the plant, animal, and fungus kingdoms, as well as the highly diverse protists.
• Evolution by the mechanism of natural selection provides a logical explanation for how populations change over time, ultimately leading to the creation of new species. Life has been evolving for billions of years on Earth.
• Evolutionary theory was co-discovered by Charles Darwin and Alfred Wallace, working separately. Both traveled the world extensively, making observations and collecting specimens that helped them formulate their theories.
• Natural selection


  • Relies on variation of traits in a population. Individuals with traits better suited to their environment are more likely to survive, reproduce, and pass on those traits to future generations. Over time, beneficial traits become more common, maladaptive traits become less common.
• The background extinction rate is estimated to be about 1 per million species years based on the fossil record. The current extinction rates are several times higher than the background rate.
• Biologists argue that we are currently experiencing the 6th Mass Extinction, with most extinctions due to anthropogenic causes.
• Biotechnology is a broad area of biology, involving the use of living systems and organisms to develop or make products.
• Genetic engineering (also called genetic modification)


  The direct manipulation of an organism's genome to alter the genetic makeup of an organism.
• GMO (genetically modified organism)


  Organisms whose genetic characteristics have been altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating and/or natural recombination.
• Transgene


  A gene that has been transferred naturally, or by any of a number of genetic engineering techniques, from one organism to another.
• Benefits of Genetic Engineering

  • Enhanced nutrition
  • Increased food supply (cheaper production cost)
  • Increased pest and disease resistance (reduced pesticides)
  • Grow food in harsh climate
  • Make drugs
• Heredity


  Inherent from parents
• Genes


  Located at chromosome
• Amino acids


  Without it, there's no enzymes
• Ptyain


  Changes carbohydrates into sugar
• DNA


  Blueprint of cell protein
• Nucleotides


  Sugar basis of DNA to duplicate
• Messenger RNA


  Carries genetic information from DNA to ribosomes, where translation into a protein sequence occur
• Ribosomes


  Site of protein synthesis
• Morphology


  Study of size, shape, structured of animals, plants, microorganisms, and etc.
• Prokaryotes


  Organisms without or no nucleus
• Eukaryotic


  Organisms with nucleus
• Autotrophs


  Can live in hot place
• Heterotrophic


  Rely on the produced organism