Biology

• Biodiversity


  Variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome of the entire Earth
• Bioethical Issues


  Investigating a bioethical issue (i.e. animal rights, stem cell research, urbanization, origin of life, mandatory DNA testing/sequencing, etc.)
• Cancer


  News/information relating to the various types of cancer (i.e. lung cancer, leukemia, cervical cancer, etc.)
• Ecology


  Interactions between living things in nature and/or between a living thing and its environment
• Articles dealing ONLY with climate or geology (not living) are UNACCEPTABLE in Ecology
• Evolution


  Changes in living things through a long period of time
• Articles dealing with evolution of stars or the universe (not living) are UNACCEPTABLE
• Health


  Viruses, bacteria of other very small living things or articles dealing with health, medications, or related research
• Genetics/DNA


  Heredity, inherited disease, birth defects or any article involving genes, chromosomes, and biotechnology
• Microbiology/Cells


  Articles relating to microorganisms (too small to be seen with the naked eye), such as fungi, protists, bacteria, and viruses (although not considered living)
• Biology


  The area of science dealing with living things
• Organic compounds


  • Characterized by the presence of carbon
• Carbohydrates

  • Made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen
  • General formula CnH2nOn
  • Serve as energy molecules or reserves
• Cellulose


  Gives strength and protection to plant cells
• Lipids


  • Macromolecules such as fats, oils, and waxes
  • Made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen
  • Building blocks are fatty acids and glycerol
• Proteins


  • Made up of repeating units of amino acids
  • Component of muscles and tissues
  • Control the rate of chemical reactions
• Enzymes


  Proteins that act as catalysts
• Nucleic Acids


  Carriers of hereditary information in living organisms
• Vitamins


  • Necessary in very small amounts for body growth and activity
  • Needed to prevent certain diseases
• Inorganic compounds


  • Characterized by the absence of carbon
• Water


  The most abundant inorganic compound
• About 65% to 95% of the substances of every living thing is water.
• Nutrition


  The process of ingesting and absorbing food
• Transport


  Movement of nutrients, water, ions, and other materials
• Metabolism


  Process by which nutrients are used to form complex molecules
• Homeostasis


  An internal balance in all aspects of metabolism and biological function
• Digestion


  A special form of catabolism that breaks food down into smaller molecules
• Absorption


  Allows small molecules to pass through cell membranes
• Excretion


  The elimination of waste products
• Reproduction


  The process by which an organism produces offspring
• Types of reproduction

  • Asexual
  • Sexual
• Asexual reproduction


  Reproduction without the use of gametes
• Fission


  The splitting of the body of an organism into two identical parts
• Budding


  The growing of a bud out of the parent cells
• Sporulation


  Spore formation as in fern plants and mushrooms
• Sexual reproduction


  Requires the union of male and female gametes
• External Fertilization


  The union of sperm cells and egg cells outside the body of the female organism
• Internal Fertilization


  The union of sperm cells and egg cells inside the body of a female organism
• Cells are the smallest structures capable of basic life processes.
• All living things are composed of cells.