Chapter 1: The Foundations of Life
- 1.1 The Characteristics of Life
- 1.2 The Chemical Basis of Life
- Atoms and molecules
- Water and its properties
- The four major types of macromolecules (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids)
Chapter 2: The Cell: The Basic Unit of Life
- 2.1 Cell Theory
- 2.2 Prokaryotic vs Eukaryotic Cells
- Key differences in structure
- 2.3 Structure and Function of Organelles
- Nucleus, ribosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, mitochondria, chloroplasts, vacuoles, cell wall, cell membrane
Chapter 3: Cellular Processes
- 3.1 Cell Membrane and Transport
- Structure of the cell membrane
- Passive transport (diffusion, osmosis, facilitated diffusion)
- Active transport
- 3.2 Cellular Energy Transformation
- Photosynthesis (light reactions and the Calvin cycle)
- Cellular Respiration (glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation)
Chapter 4: Genetics & Heredity
- 4.1 DNA: The Genetic Material
- Structure of DNA
- DNA replication
- 4.2 Genes & Chromosomes
- The relationship between genes and chromosomes
- Dominance and recessiveness
- Punnett squares and probability in inheritance
- 4.3 From Gene to Protein
- Transcription
- Translation
Chapter 5: Evolution
- 5.1 Darwin and Natural Selection
- 5.2 Evidence for Evolution
- Fossil record
- Comparative anatomy
- Molecular biology
- 5.3 Mechanisms of Evolution
- Natural selection
- Mutation
- Genetic Drift
- Gene flow
Chapter 6: Ecology
- 6.1 Levels of Ecological Organization
- Populations, communities, ecosystems, biomes
- 6.2 Energy Flow & Nutrient Cycling
- Food chains and food webs
- Carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle
- 6.3 Population Ecology
- Population growth patterns
- Carrying capacity
- 6.4 Interactions Between Species
- Competition
- Predation
- Symbiosis (mutualism, commensalism, parasitism)
Chapter 7: Biodiversity & Conservation
- 7.1 The Importance of Biodiversity
- 7.2 Classification of Living Things
- The Linnaean system
- Domains and Kingdoms
- 7.3 Threats to Biodiversity
- Habitat loss
- Overexploitation
- Invasive species
- Climate change
- 7.4 Conservation Efforts
