Fundamentals of Biology: Energy, Atoms, Molecules, and Systems
Energy and Its Forms
Energy is the ability to cause changes. There are two kinds:
- Potential Energy: Unactualized energy.
- Kinetic Energy: Active energy. Examples include heat, electricity, light, and movement. Potential energy includes gravity and chemical energy.
Atoms and Molecules
Atoms are the smallest unit of an element (e.g., Oxygen, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Carbon, Iron).
Subatomic Particles and Molecules
Subatomic Particles (protons, neutrons, and electrons) together make up atoms, which form molecules.
Molecules are of two kinds:
- Organic Molecules: Carbon compounds like sugar, fiber, and aspirin.
- Inorganic Molecules: Water, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and salt.
Biomolecules (4 Major): Proteins, sugars, lipids, and nucleic acids.
Cells and Tissues
Molecules and macromolecules together form cells.
- Cell Membrane: The outer covering of a cell.
- Cytoplasm: The inside of a cell.
- Nucleus: The center of a cell.
Organelles
- Ribosomes: Produce protein.
- Mitochondria: Produce energy.
- Lysosomes: Handle waste disposal.
Tissues
Nerve, connective, epithelial, and muscle tissues.
Organs and Organ Systems
Tissues together form organs. Organ systems include:
- Nervous System
- Digestive System
- Respiratory System
- Cardiovascular System
- Urinary System
Organ systems make up organisms.
Populations, Communities, and Ecosystems
- Populations: A group of organisms of the same species.
- Communities: A group of populations.
- Ecosystems: A group of plants, animals, and other living systems interacting with each other and their environment.
- Biomes: A number of closely related ecosystems.
- Biosphere: Atmosphere, thermosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, mesosphere, etc.
Cardiovascular/Circulatory System
- Heart: Made up of left and right ventricles and left and right atria (pump).
- Blood Vessels: Arteries, arterioles, capillaries, ventricles, and veins.
- Blood: Made up of plasma, red cells, white cells, and platelets.
Lymphatic/Immune System
Consists of lymph organs (spleen, thymus, lymph nodes) and lymph (fluid consists of white blood cells).
Function: Immunity; collects and returns some tissues and fluids to the bloodstream. Defends the body against infection and tissue damage.
Digestive System
Consists of the oral cavity, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, rectum, and anus. It ingests food and water mechanically, breaks down food and absorbs small molecules into the internal environment, and eliminates food residues.
Respiratory System
Consists of the nasal cavity, trachea, and lungs. Rapidly delivers oxygen to the tissue fluid that bathes all living cells. Removes carbon dioxide wastes from all cells and helps regulate pH.
Urinary System
Consists of kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, urethra, and urine. Maintains the volume and composition of the internal environment and excretes excess fluid and blood-borne wastes.
Nervous System
Central Nervous System: Brain and spinal cord. Includes chemical senses, sense of vision, hearing, and balance.
Skeletal System
Bones provide movement, support, and protect body parts.
Muscular System
Muscles move the body and internal parts, maintain posture, and generate heat by increases in metabolic activity.
Endocrine System
Consists of glands and hormones. Controls body function with the nervous system and integrates short-term and long-term activities.
Matter and Mixtures
Matter: Anything that has mass and volume.
- Pure Substance: Only one kind of matter.
- Mixture: More than one kind of matter.
Mixtures
Made up of more than one kind of matter.
- Homogeneous: The same throughout and consists of one phase.
- Solution: Air, coke, coffee, alloy.
- Colloid: Mist, Jell-o, Mayo.
- Suspension: Mud, Blood.
- Heterogeneous: Has more than one phase. Pizza, vinegar, oil, sand, and salt.
Pure Substances
Made up of one kind of matter.
- Element: Made up of one kind of atom (Iron, Sodium, Oxygen, Hydrogen, Carbon).
- Compound: Made up of more than one kind of atom (Inorganic – Water, Carbon Dioxide; Organic – Methane, Sugar).