Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Biology

Brain Anatomy and Functions

The human brain is a complex organ, the control center of the nervous system. Below are key parts and their vital roles:

Cerebral Cortex

The outermost layer of neural tissue that covers the brain, responsible for higher-level functions like thought, language, and memory.

Corpus Callosum

A large bundle of nerve fibers connecting the two cerebral hemispheres, facilitating communication and influencing logic and creativity.

Hypothalamus

A crucial part of the brain that links the nervous system to the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, regulating essential bodily functions.

Thalamus

A major relay station for sensory information, also regulating sleep, alertness, and consciousness.

Midbrain

Involved in motor movement, particularly

The Central Dogma of Molecular Biology

Replication - General Characteristics:

• DNA replication is semiconservative: each strand in the DNA double helix acts as a template for the synthesis of a new, complementary strand. The new two daughter molecules of DNA have a new strand and an old one.
• DNA polymerase III: is the enzyme that adds nucleotides to the growing DNA chain, incorporating only those that are complementary to the template. DNA polymerase III has the following characteristics:
  • It can only read a template in 3’-----5’ direction so the new strand grows in 5’----3’ direction.
  • It needs a pre-existing strand of nucleotides called a primer which provides a 3’-OH end to bind new nucleotides.
  • It is able to repair the mistakes by removing

Natural Selection: Principles of Adaptation

Natural selection is the principle that variations in the biology or behavior of a species result in some individuals possessing traits that confer an advantage in survival. This process is highly dependent on the environment.

Individuals with these advantageous traits are more likely to survive, prosper, and reproduce. Over time, the population becomes dominated by individuals exhibiting these beneficial biological or behavioral characteristics. Offspring of the same species can be born with mutations, introducing new variations. Natural selection drives populations to become adapted, or increasingly well-suited, to their environments over time. This process relies on the environment and requires existing... Continue reading "Understanding Natural Selection and Brain Functions" »

The Human Sensory System: Receptors and Organs

Understanding Sensory Receptors

Sensory receptors are specialized structures responsible for detecting changes (stimuli) in the world around us and converting them into nerve impulses. These impulses then travel to a higher nerve center where perception begins. Sensory receptors can be simple groups of nerves or, more often, special cells that join together to form the sensory organs.

Classification of Sensory Receptors

Receptors are typically classified based on the type of stimulus they detect:

• Photoreceptors: Detect light stimuli and are found in the eyes.
• Mechanoreceptors: Stimulated by changes in movement, such as pressure, contact, or sound waves. These include receptors in the skin, muscles, and

Arthritis: Inflammation of the Joints

Arthritis is a condition where the joints become inflamed, swollen, and warm to the touch. It can also cause decreased mobility and joint deformities.

Osteoarthritis: A Common Type of Arthritis

Osteoarthritis is a chronic, non-inflammatory condition characterized by progressive degeneration of the cartilage and joints.

Gout: Painful Inflammation of Joints

Gout is a type of arthritis that involves painful inflammation of the joints. It usually begins abruptly and is accompanied by redness and swelling.

Rheumatism: Similar to Osteoarthritis

Rheumatism is similar to osteoarthritis but typically occurs in individuals between the ages of 25 and 55.

Osteoporosis: Decrease in Bone Mass

Osteoporosis is a condition characterized... Continue reading "Common Types of Arthritis and Other Joint Conditions" »

Enzymes: Proteins that Function as Biological Catalysts

1) Singer and Nicolson's fluid mosaic model of the membrane proposed that membranes consist of protein molecules embedded in a fluid bilayer of phospholipids

2) Which component is a peripheral protein?

D

3) Which component is cholesterol?

D

4) Which component is a protein fiber of the extracellular matrix?

A

5) Which component is a microfilament (actin filament) of the cytoskeleton?

C

6) Which component is a glycolipid?

B

7) Which of the following most accurately describes selective permeability?

Only certain molecules can cross a cell membrane.

8) Which of the following would likely move through the lipid bilayer of a plasma membrane most rapidly?

CO2

9) Which of the following allows water to move much faster across cell membranes?

aquaporins

10) Diffusion... Continue reading "Understanding Cell Membrane Components and Functions" »

What is Cytology?

Cytology is the study of the internal structure and function of individual cells.

What is Histology?

Histology is the study of the microscopic structure of tissues.

What is Anatomy?

Anatomy is the study of the structure and relationship between body parts. There are several sub-disciplines within anatomy:

Surface Anatomy

Surface anatomy is the study of the external features of the body.

Regional Anatomy

Regional anatomy is the study of anatomy based on regions of the body. It involves the study of the superficial and internal features in a specific area of the body.

Pathological Anatomy

Pathological anatomy is the medical specialty concerned with the diagnosis of disease based on the gross and microscopic examination of tissues.

What

Fundamentals of Ecology

Ecology is the scientific discipline in which the relationships among living organisms and the interactions they have with their environments are studied.

Key Concepts

The biosphere consists of all life on Earth and all parts of the Earth in which life exists, including land, water, and the atmosphere. A habitat is an area where an organism lives.

Ecosystem Components

Abiotic factors are nonliving factors in an organism’s environment, while biotic factors are living factors in an organism’s environment.

Levels of Ecological Organization

Ecological studies focus on several levels:

• Organism
• Population
• Community
• Ecosystem
• Biome
• Biosphere

Energy Flow in Ecosystems

Producers and Consumers

Autotrophs (producers) make their own food, while... Continue reading "Ecology Essentials: Interactions, Energy Flow & Cycles" »

Understanding Key Biological Systems and Health Concepts

Intestines

The intestines are a long, continuous tube running from the stomach to the anus. Most absorption of nutrients and water happens in the intestines. The intestines include the small intestine, large intestine, and rectum.

Excretory System

The excretory system is a passive biological system that removes excess, unnecessary materials from the body fluids of an organism.

Liver

The liver's main job is to filter the blood coming from the digestive tract before passing it to the rest of the body. The liver also detoxifies chemicals and metabolizes drugs.

Double Circulation

Double circulation describes the process where blood is first pumped into the lungs, where it becomes oxygenated, and... Continue reading "Key Biological Systems and Health Concepts Explained" »