Topic: Cellular Biology

Cell Structure:

Cells are the basic structural and functional units of living organisms.

Basic structure includes the cell membrane, cytoplasm, and nucleus.

Organelles within the cell carry out specific functions:

Mitochondria: Powerhouse of the cell, generates energy.

Endoplasmic Reticulum: Involved in protein and lipid synthesis.

Golgi Apparatus: Packages and distributes molecules.

Chloroplasts (in plant cells): Site of photosynthesis.

Vacuoles: Storage compartments.

Cellular Processes:

Photosynthesis: Process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize
foods with the help of chlorophyll, producing oxygen as a byproduct.

Cellular Respiration: The process through which cells break down glucose and other organic
molecules to produce ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the energy currency of the cell.

Cell Division:

Mitosis: Process of cell division in which one cell divides into two genetically identical daughter cells,
each containing the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell.

Meiosis: Specialized cell division that produces gametes (sperm and egg cells) with half the number
of chromosomes as the parent cell, important for sexual reproduction.

Genetics:

DNA: Deoxyribonucleic acid, the hereditary material in humans and almost all other organisms,
consisting of two long chains of nucleotides twisted into a double helix and joined by hydrogen
bonds between complementary base pairs.

Genes: Units of heredity that are passed from parents to offspring and contain the instructions for
building proteins.

Genetic Variation: Differences in DNA sequences among individuals, which contribute to diversity
within species.

Evolutionary Biology:

Natural Selection: Mechanism of evolution proposed by Charles Darwin, where organisms that are
better adapted to their environment tend to survive and reproduce more successfully than those
that are less adapted.

Adaptations: Traits that enhance an organism's survival and reproduction in a particular

environment, often resulting from natural selection.