The law of segregation is a principle in genetics that states that during the formation of gametes (sperm and egg cells), the two alleles (different versions of a gene) for a trait separate from each other so that each gamete carries only one allele. This means that when the sperm and egg unite during fertilization, …
An integral tenet of contemporary conservation biology discourse is the ongoing biodiversity crisis. Approximately 65 species go extinct daily, translating to an annual extinction rate of around 30,000 species. Although biological factors such as disease outbreaks and fierce interspecies competition contribute to this issue, increased human activity is to a great extent the leading cause …
As stipulated in the kinetic molecular theory, solids, liquids, and gases are made up of tiny particles in constant motion. Solids and liquids are in condensed states wherein their particles are close together, thus limiting their range of movement. In contrast, air particles are sparsely packed, allowing them more room for random movement. Gaseous molecules …
Chemotaxis is a phenomenon where somatic cells, single-celled and multicellular organisms, and bacteria direct their movement according to specific chemicals in the environment. The word chemotaxis comes from two words; chemo (chemicals) and taxis (order and arrangement). Such chemical concentration gradient stimulated movements are crucial for the survival of the organisms. In bacteria, for instance, …
The cell is the basic unit of life. Cell organelles perform different specific functions, which we can compare to physical processes in our daily lives. When a cell organelle fails to perform its function, the rest of the organelles are affected. Suppose the mitochondria fail to break down glucose and convert it to energy; the …
In biology, symmetry is a basic feature that is observed in many living things. Basically, this is a type of order that is shown in the arrangement of body parts of the organism. However, not all living things have symmetry. Living things lacking symmetry are called asymmetrical to distinguish them from symmetrical organisms. When it …
In your high school science classes, you probably got introduced to osmosis. So, it may sound a bit confusing to hear about reverse osmosis! Let’s refresh a bit on your high school osmosis lesson and then dash back to take a look at reverse osmosis to understand it. Osmosis is defined as a process where …
We often think of the average guy as unspectacular. He doesn’t win the medals or get the highest grades. However, he also doesn’t fail but just gets by. This mediocrity makes his chances of surviving just as good as losing. But in biology, average individuals can become consistent big winners, outshining their counterparts through stabilizing …
If you look at a collection of almost anything—people, objects, animals—those with average characteristics dominate in numbers. e.g. for humans those who are of average height, weight, etc are in the majority. However, when it comes to disruptive selection, this rule doesn’t apply. Disruptive selection is a kind of natural selection in biology where individuals …
If evolution occurred in the past, can we find remnants of it today in present-day animals—whether physical or behavioral? One clue would be vestigial structures. Scientists think they have found a handful of these in modern organisms. These vestigial structures appear to have no use today. They are thought to have been necessary in the …