Kellie Ploeger Cox - CliffsNotes Biology Quick Review

CliffsNotes Biology Quick Review, 2nd Edition

Copyright 2015 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
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Library of Congress Control Number: 2014948278
ISBN: 978-0-544-33167-9 (pbk)
eISBN: 978-0-544-33166-2
v1.1214

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INTRODUCTION

T his book provides a concise, comprehensive review of the key concepts of the study of living things. Topics covered in detail include the atoms and molecules that comprise all living organisms; the central dogma of biology; the three central molecules (DNA, RNA, and protein); and the most vital biological processes, such as mitosis, meiosis, and reproduction. Subdisciplines of biology are also thoroughly explained, including taxonomy, anatomy, and ecology. A review of genetics and evolution includes the controversial and groundbreaking theories of Gregor Mendel and Charles Darwin. The biochemical processes of respiration and photosynthesis are discussed in detail for comparison, and several chapters focus on plant structure and function. Due to the increasing importance of recombinant biotechnology and stem cell research, highlights common molecular biology techniques used to identify genetic disorders and combat disease in humans. Finally, this book provides several chapters reviewing comparative anatomy of humans and other organisms.

CliffsNotes Biology Quick Review, 2nd Edition, includes bare-bones information about a wide variety of biological processes, from microbiology and biochemistry to evolution and ecology.

Why You Need This Book

Can you answer yes to any of these questions?

• Do you need to review the fundamentals of biology fast?
• Do you need a course supplement to aid your study of biology?
• Do you need a concise, comprehensive reference for your biology studies?

If so, then CliffsNotes Biology Quick Review, 2nd Edition, is for you!

How to Use This Book

You can use this book in any way that fits your personal style for study and review; you decide what works best for your needs. You can either read the book from cover to cover or just look for the information you want and put the book back on the shelf for later. Here are just a few ways you can search for topics:

• Look for areas of interest in the books Table of Contents, or use the Index to find specific topics.
• Flip through the book, looking for subject areas at the top of each page.
• Get a glimpse of what youll gain from a chapter by reading through the Chapter Check-In at the beginning of each chapter.
• Use the Chapter Check-Out at the end of each chapter to gauge your grasp of the important information you need to know.
• Test your knowledge more completely in the Review Questions and look for additional sources of information in the Resource Center.
• Use the Glossary to find key terms fast. This book defines new terms and concepts where they first appear in the chapter. If a word is boldfaced, you can find its definition in the Glossary.
• Flip through the book until you find what youre looking for. We organized this book to gradually build on key concepts.

Hundreds of Practice Questions Online!

Go to www.cliffsnotes.com/sciences/biology-quizzes for hundreds of additional biology practice questions to help you prepare for your next quiz or test. The questions are organized by this books chapter sections, so its easy to use the book and then quiz yourself online to make sure you know the subject matter. Go to www.cliffsnotes.com to test yourself anytime and find other free homework help.

Chapter 1

THE SCIENCE OF BIOLOGY

Chapter Check-In

• Identifying the characteristics of living things
• Mapping out the scientific method

B iology is the study of living things. It encompasses the cellular basis of living things, the energy metabolism that underlies the activities of life, and the genetic basis for inheritance in organisms. Biology also includes the study of evolutionary relationships among organisms and the diversity of life on Earth. It considers the biology of microorganisms, plants, and animals, for example, and it brings together the structural and functional relationships that underlie their day-to-day activities. Biology draws on the sciences of chemistry and physics for its foundations and applies the laws of these disciplines to living things.

Many subdisciplines and special areas of biology exist, which can be conveniently divided into practical and theoretical categories. Types of practical biology include plant breeding, wildlife management, medical science, and crop production. Theoretical biology encompasses such disciplines as physiology (the study of the function of living things), biochemistry (the study of the chemistry of organisms), taxonomy (classification), ecology (the study of populations and their interactions with each other and their environments), and microbiology (the study of microscopic organisms).

Characteristics of Living Things

Defining a living thing is a difficult proposition, as is defining life that property possessed by living things. However, a living thing possesses certain properties that help define what life is.

Complex organization

Living things have a level of complexity and organization not found in lifeless objects. At its most fundamental level, a living thing is composed of one or more