Essential Biology and Physical Science Concepts

Plant Biology and Classification

Plants perform photosynthesis because their cells contain chloroplasts with a green pigment called chlorophyll.

Plant Categories

• Non-flowering plants: Mosses and ferns.
• Flowering plants: Gymnosperms (e.g., pine trees) and angiosperms (e.g., apple trees, which produce fruit).

Plant Structures

• Mosses: Feature a capsule containing spores, a filament, phyllodes (leaf-like structures), and rhizoids for soil fixation.
• Ferns: Possess leaves, spores that grow in a sorus, and underground stems.
• Gymnosperms: Typically evergreens.
• Angiosperms: Typically deciduous.
• Flower Anatomy: Anther, stigma, style, ovary, ovules, calyx, and filament.

Fungi, Bacteria, and Viruses

Fungi

Fungi are composed of hyphae that form a mycelium. Groups include:

• Yeast: Useful for baking.
• Moulds: Decompose organic matter.
• Mushrooms: Some species are poisonous.

Bacteria

Bacteria consist of a flagellum, a protective capsule, a plasmatic membrane (regulating transport), cytoplasm, and genetic material. Shapes include coccus, bacillus, vibrio, and spirillum.

Algae

• Green: Found on water surfaces.
• Brown: Found in saltwater.
• Red: Found in deep ocean waters.

Viruses

Viruses are not considered living organisms as they cannot perform the three vital functions; they are obligate parasites. Structure includes a capsid (protein shell), nucleic acid, and a viral envelope. Reproduction cycle: 1. Entry into the cell, 2. Control of the nucleus, 3. Production of viral components, 4. Assembly, 5. Release of new viruses.

Medical Interventions

• Vaccines: Contain dead or weakened microorganisms to teach the body to fight illness.
• Antibiotics: Produced by bacteria and fungi to prevent bacterial growth; they are ineffective against viruses.

Matter and Physical Science

Mass and Density

• Mass: The amount of matter in a body.
• Density: The relationship between mass and volume.
• Temperature: 0ºC = 273K.

States of Matter and Changes

• Fusion: Solid to liquid.
• Vaporization: Liquid to gas.
• Sublimation: Solid to gas.
• Solidification: Liquid to solid.
• Regressive Sublimation: Gas to solid.
• Condensation: Gas to liquid.

Mixtures and Substances

• Heterogeneous mixture: Components are clearly distinguishable.
• Homogeneous mixture (Solution): Components are not distinguishable.
• Chemical element: Made of one type of atom.
• Chemical compound: Made of different elements.
• Physical change: Composition remains the same.
• Chemical change: Composition changes, resulting in a new substance.