Photosynthesis: The Core of Life on Earth

What is Photosynthesis?

Photosynthesis is the chemical process by which green plants, certain algae, and some bacteria capture light energy from the sun and convert it into chemical energy. Plants contain a green pigment called chlorophyll, located in the chloroplasts of their cells. This pigment absorbs sunlight’s energy and uses it to produce carbohydrates like glucose from water and carbon dioxide. As a byproduct, photosynthesis releases oxygen into the atmosphere, crucial for life and respiration.

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Cell Biology: Structure, Function, Mitosis, and Meiosis

Cell Biology: Structure, Function, and Reproduction

Cell: The fundamental physiological, morphological, developmental, reproductive, and genetic unit of organisms.

It is the smallest unit of life.

There are two main types: prokaryotic and eukaryotic.

Prokaryotes possess a cell wall but lack a nucleus.

Eukaryotes are divided into animal and plant cells.

Animal cells, unlike plant cells, contain lysosomes that absorb lipids. Plant cells, unlike animal cells, have a cell wall made of cellulose.

Cytoplasmic

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Cellular Organization: Eukaryotic vs. Prokaryotic Cells

Cellular Organization: Eukaryotic vs. Prokaryotic

Types of Cellular Organization

Eukaryotic Cell Organization: Possesses cytoplasmic compartments surrounded by membranes, producing specific chemical reactions.

Prokaryotic Cell Organization: Lacks internal compartments surrounded by membranes and a true nucleus.

Prokaryotic Cells

Plasma Membrane: The cell boundary between the cell’s interior and the external environment.

Nucleoid: The region inside the cell containing hereditary material, typically a single

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Gregor Mendel: Inheritance and Genetics Pioneer

Gregor Mendel: A Biography

Early Life and Education

Born on July 22, 1822, in Heinzendorf, Austria, Gregor Mendel died on January 6, 1884, in Brno (then Brünn). In 1843, he entered the Augustinian Monastery of St. Thomas in Brno. He later studied physics, mathematics, and natural sciences in Vienna. Upon returning to the monastery, Mendel dedicated himself to investigating the variety, inheritance, and evolution of plants.

Basic Terminology of Inheritance

Allele:
One of two or more alternative forms
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Microorganisms: Applications in Pharma, Agriculture & Environment

Microorganisms in the Pharmaceutical Industry

Major pharmaceutical products derived from microorganisms include:

  • Antibiotics: Substances produced by microorganisms that inhibit the growth of or kill other microorganisms. Known antibiotics differ in chemical structure:
    • β-lactam Antibiotics: Penicillins and Cephalosporins
    • Aminoglycosides: Streptomycin
    • Macrolides: Erythromycin
    • Tetracyclines: Broad-spectrum antibiotics
  • Vaccines: Preparations obtained from dead or attenuated pathogens used to induce active
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Mecanismos de Defensa Inmunitarios: Células y Procesos

Ausencia de Receptividad

Se debe a factores anatómicos y fisiológicos propios de la especie, dependientes de factores genéticos. Por ejemplo, el hombre y los primates son infectados por el virus de la polio, pero el conejo no, ya que este no posee receptores en sus membranas celulares para dicho virus.

Fagocitos

Son células con capacidad fagocítica que pueden destruir sustancias nocivas o células envejecidas, a las que engloban mediante pseudópodos para luego digerirlas en su citoplasma. Se

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