Grade 10 to 12 Biology Pamphlet - Simplified Notes

Biology

Biology

The study of living things (organisms).

Characteristics of Living Things

Summarized by the mnemonic MR. GREFIC: Movement, Respiration, Growth, Reproduction, Excretion, Feeding, Irritability, and Metabolism.

Cell Structure

The fundamental unit of life; includes components such as cell membrane, cytoplasm, and nucleus.

Transport across Cell Membranes

Includes diffusion, osmosis, and active transport, allowing substances to enter or exit cells.

Diffusion

The movement of particles from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.

Osmosis

The movement of water molecules from an area of higher water potential to an area of lower water potential through a selectively permeable membrane.

Active Transport

The movement of substances against a concentration gradient, requiring energy (ATP) from the cell.

Enzymes

Biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions in living organisms, typically protein in nature.

Photosynthesis

The process by which green plants manufacture glucose/starch from carbon dioxide and water in the presence of sunlight.

Nutritional Modes

The ways organisms obtain food: autotrophic (self-producing) and heterotrophic (dependent on others).

Homeostasis

The maintenance of a stable internal environment within an organism.

Excretion

The removal of toxic metabolic wastes from the body.

Growth

A permanent increase in size, mass, number of cells, and complexity of an organism.

Tropic Responses

Plant growth responses to environmental stimuli such as light (phototropism) and gravity (geotropism).

Locomotion

The ability of an organism to move from one place to another.

Reproduction

The biological process by which new individual organisms are produced.

Genetics

The study of heredity and the variation of inherited characteristics.

Natural Selection

The process whereby organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

Mutations

Sudden spontaneous changes in the structure of a gene or the number of chromosomes.

Immunity

The ability of an organism to resist infection by pathogens.

Ecosystem

A community of living organisms and their interactions with the abiotic components of their environment.

Biodiversity

The variety and variability of life forms within a given ecosystem, region, or on the entire planet.

Pollution

The contamination of the environment due to harmful substances.

Endoskeleton

The internal skeleton found in vertebrates, consisting of bone and cartilage.

Exoskeleton

The external skeleton that provides support and protection to invertebrates.

Hydrostatic Skeleton

A skeletal structure found in soft-bodied invertebrates that provides support through fluid pressure.

Antagonistic Muscles

Muscle pairs that work against each other to produce movement.

Blood Circulation

The process by which blood moves through the circulatory system, transporting nutrients, gases, and wastes.

Homeostatic Regulation

Mechanisms that maintain stability in internal conditions through feedback systems.

Respiration

The biochemical process in which energy is released from food substances.

Pollination

The transfer of pollen grains from the male anther of a flower to the female stigma.

Fertilization

The union of male and female gametes to form a zygote.

Gestation Period

The length of time between conception and birth.

Cell Theory

All living organisms are composed of cells, and all cells arise from pre-existing cells.

Inorganic Compounds

Chemical compounds that do not contain carbon-hydrogen bonds, such as water and minerals.

Organic Compounds

Compounds that contain carbon-hydrogen bonds, primarily found in living organisms.

ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)

The main energy currency of the cell, used to power various cellular processes.

Chromosomes

Structures composed of DNA and proteins that contain genetic information.

Alleles

Different forms of a gene that can exist at a specific locus on a chromosome.

Phenotype

The observable traits or characteristics of an organism, resulting from the interaction of genotype and environment.

Genotype

The genetic constitution of an organism, representing its hereditary information.

Biomes

Large ecological areas on the earth's surface, with distinct climates and communities of plants and animals.

Carrying Capacity

The maximum population size of a species that an environment can sustain indefinitely.

Ex creation

Kidney