List of basic biology topics
Biology is the study of living organisms. It is concerned with the characteristics, classification, and behaviors of organisms, how species come into existence, and the interactions they have with each other and with the environment. Biology encompasses a broad spectrum of academic fields that are often viewed as independent disciplines. However, together they address phenomena related to living organisms (biological phenomena) over a wide range of scales, from biophysics to ecology. All concepts in biology are subject to the same laws that other branches of science obey, such as the laws of thermodynamics and conservation of energy.
The following list of topics is provided as an overview of and introduction to biology:

# Essence of biology
- Anatomy
- Bio-
- Biologist
- Human anatomy
- Life
- Organism

# Subdisciplines of biology

# History of biology
- Ancient Greek medicine
- Islamic medicine
- Byzantine medicine
- Medieval medicine
- History of anatomy
- History of plant systematics
- History of evolutionary thought
- History of natural history
- History of genetics
- History of model organisms
- Modern evolutionary synthesis
- History of biochemistry
- History of molecular biology
- History of biotechnology
- History of molecular evolution

# Basic biology concepts

## Ecology & evolution
- Life: origin of life -- Miller-Urey experiment
- Ecology:
Autecology: autotroph -- heterotroph -- acclimatization -- endotherm -- ectotherm -- hibernation -- homeostasis -- behavior -- circadian rhythm
Population ecology: population -- competition -- mating -- biological dispersal -- endemism -- niche -- growth curve -- carrying capacity
Community ecology: community -- keystone species -- mimicry -- symbiosis -- pollination -- mutualism -- commensalism -- parasitism -- predation -- invasive species -- environmental heterogeneity -- edge effect
Ecosystems: biodiversity -- biome -- habitat -- plankton -- thermocline -- carbon cycle -- water cycle -- nitrogen cycle -- food web -- trophic level -- saprobe -- decomposition
- Autecology: autotroph -- heterotroph -- acclimatization -- endotherm -- ectotherm -- hibernation -- homeostasis -- behavior -- circadian rhythm
- Population ecology: population -- competition -- mating -- biological dispersal -- endemism -- niche -- growth curve -- carrying capacity
- Community ecology: community -- keystone species -- mimicry -- symbiosis -- pollination -- mutualism -- commensalism -- parasitism -- predation -- invasive species -- environmental heterogeneity -- edge effect
- Ecosystems: biodiversity -- biome -- habitat -- plankton -- thermocline -- carbon cycle -- water cycle -- nitrogen cycle -- food web -- trophic level -- saprobe -- decomposition
- Evolutionary biology (evolution)
Microevolution: species -- speciation -- adaptation -- selection -- natural selection -- directional selection -- sexual selection -- genetic drift -- sexual reproduction -- asexual reproduction -- colony -- allele frequency -- neutral theory of molecular evolution -- population genetics -- Hardy-Weinberg principle
Macroevolution: adaptive radiation -- convergent evolution -- extinction -- mass extinction -- fossil -- taphonomy -- geologic time -- plate tectonics -- continental drift -- vicariance -- Gondwana -- Pangaea -- endosymbiosis
Systematics: taxon -- taxonomy -- scientific classification -- phylogeny -- evolutionary tree -- cladistics -- synapomorphy -- homology -- molecular clock
- Microevolution: species -- speciation -- adaptation -- selection -- natural selection -- directional selection -- sexual selection -- genetic drift -- sexual reproduction -- asexual reproduction -- colony -- allele frequency -- neutral theory of molecular evolution -- population genetics -- Hardy-Weinberg principle
- Macroevolution: adaptive radiation -- convergent evolution -- extinction -- mass extinction -- fossil -- taphonomy -- geologic time -- plate tectonics -- continental drift -- vicariance -- Gondwana -- Pangaea -- endosymbiosis
- Systematics: taxon -- taxonomy -- scientific classification -- phylogeny -- evolutionary tree -- cladistics -- synapomorphy -- homology -- molecular clock

## Organismal biology
- Groups of living organisms
viruses : DNA viruses -- RNA viruses -- retroviruses
Single-cell organisms:
prokaryotes : microbe -- bacteria -- archaebacteria -- eubacteria
eukaryotes: fungi -- algae -- protozoa -- protista
Multicellular organisms:
plantae -- plants -- bryophytes -- pteridophytes -- seed plants
animalia -- animals -- metazoa -- insects -- molluscs -- vertebrates
fungi -- lichen -- mycorrhizae
- viruses : DNA viruses -- RNA viruses -- retroviruses
- Single-cell organisms:
prokaryotes : microbe -- bacteria -- archaebacteria -- eubacteria
eukaryotes: fungi -- algae -- protozoa -- protista
- prokaryotes : microbe -- bacteria -- archaebacteria -- eubacteria
- eukaryotes: fungi -- algae -- protozoa -- protista
- Multicellular organisms:
plantae -- plants -- bryophytes -- pteridophytes -- seed plants
animalia -- animals -- metazoa -- insects -- molluscs -- vertebrates
fungi -- lichen -- mycorrhizae
- plantae -- plants -- bryophytes -- pteridophytes -- seed plants
- animalia -- animals -- metazoa -- insects -- molluscs -- vertebrates
- fungi -- lichen -- mycorrhizae
- Developmental biology : gamete -- spermatid -- ovum -- zygote -- embryo -- cellular differentiation -- morphogenesis --homeobox
Animal development: stem cell -- blastula -- gastrula -- egg (biology) -- fetus -- placenta
Plant development: seed -- cotyledon -- meristem -- apical meristem -- vascular cambium -- cork cambium
- Animal development: stem cell -- blastula -- gastrula -- egg (biology) -- fetus -- placenta
- Plant development: seed -- cotyledon -- meristem -- apical meristem -- vascular cambium -- cork cambium
- Morphology, Anatomy, & Physiology:
Techniques: electrophysiology -- electron microscopy
tissues -- organ -- senescence
Plant systems: root -- shoot -- stem -- leaf -- flower
vascular tissue -- Casparian strip -- turgor pressure -- xylem -- phloem -- transpiration -- wood
alternation of generations -- gametophyte -- antheridium -- archegonium -- sporophyte -- spore -- sporangium
tropism -- taxis
Animal systems: skin cell
skeleton -- bone -- cartilage -- joint -- muscle -- tendon -- actin -- myosin -- reflex
circulatory system -- respiration -- lung -- heart -- artery -- vein -- capillary -- blood -- blood cell
digestive system -- stomach -- intestine -- liver -- nutrition -- primary nutritional groups metabolism -- kidney -- excretion
nervous system: limbic system -- vestibular system -- neuron -- axon -- dendrite -- brain -- eye -- vision -- audition -- proprioception -- olfaction -- memory
nerve signaling: action potential -- signal transduction -- synapse -- receptor
endocrine system -- hormone
reproductive system -- testes -- ovary -- pregnancy
- Techniques: electrophysiology -- electron microscopy
- tissues -- organ -- senescence
- Plant systems: root -- shoot -- stem -- leaf -- flower
vascular tissue -- Casparian strip -- turgor pressure -- xylem -- phloem -- transpiration -- wood
alternation of generations -- gametophyte -- antheridium -- archegonium -- sporophyte -- spore -- sporangium
tropism -- taxis
- vascular tissue -- Casparian strip -- turgor pressure -- xylem -- phloem -- transpiration -- wood
- alternation of generations -- gametophyte -- antheridium -- archegonium -- sporophyte -- spore -- sporangium
- tropism -- taxis
- Animal systems: skin cell
skeleton -- bone -- cartilage -- joint -- muscle -- tendon -- actin -- myosin -- reflex
circulatory system -- respiration -- lung -- heart -- artery -- vein -- capillary -- blood -- blood cell
digestive system -- stomach -- intestine -- liver -- nutrition -- primary nutritional groups metabolism -- kidney -- excretion
nervous system: limbic system -- vestibular system -- neuron -- axon -- dendrite -- brain -- eye -- vision -- audition -- proprioception -- olfaction -- memory
nerve signaling: action potential -- signal transduction -- synapse -- receptor
endocrine system -- hormone
reproductive system -- testes -- ovary -- pregnancy
- skeleton -- bone -- cartilage -- joint -- muscle -- tendon -- actin -- myosin -- reflex
- circulatory system -- respiration -- lung -- heart -- artery -- vein -- capillary -- blood -- blood cell
- digestive system -- stomach -- intestine -- liver -- nutrition -- primary nutritional groups metabolism -- kidney -- excretion
- nervous system: limbic system -- vestibular system -- neuron -- axon -- dendrite -- brain -- eye -- vision -- audition -- proprioception -- olfaction -- memory
- nerve signaling: action potential -- signal transduction -- synapse -- receptor
- endocrine system -- hormone
- reproductive system -- testes -- ovary -- pregnancy
- Medicine:
Diseases: cancer -- diabetes -- obesity -- hereditary disease -- communicable disease
immune system: antibody -- host -- vaccine -- immune cell -- AIDS -- T-cell -- leucocyte
Drugs: antibiotic -- barbiturate -- SSRI
Techniques: MRI -- Computed axial tomography -- blood count
- Diseases: cancer -- diabetes -- obesity -- hereditary disease -- communicable disease
- immune system: antibody -- host -- vaccine -- immune cell -- AIDS -- T-cell -- leucocyte
- Drugs: antibiotic -- barbiturate -- SSRI
- Techniques: MRI -- Computed axial tomography -- blood count

## Cell & molecular biology
- Cell biology: the cell
- Techniques: culture -- microscope -- SEM -- TEM
cell components:
-rganelles: Golgi apparatus -- nucleus -- cytoplasm -- vacuole -- vesicle -- lysosome -- peroxisome -- mitochondrion -- plastid -- chloroplast
membranes: plasma membrane -- endomembrane system -- endoplasmic reticulum -- mitochondrial membrane -- chloroplast membrane
Other subcellular features: cell wall -- pseudopod -- cytoskeleton -- mitotic spindle -- flagellum -- cilium
cell processes:
diffusion -- osmosis -- isotonic -- active transport -- phagocytosis
energy pathways: fermentation -- glycolysis -- cellular respiration -- citric acid cycle -- photosynthesis -- Calvin cycle
protein biosynthesis -- ribosomes
cellular reproduction: cytokinesis -- centromere -- meiosis
nuclear reproduction: mitosis -- interphase -- prophase -- metaphase -- anaphase -- telophase
programmed cell death -- apoptosis -- cell senescence
- Techniques: culture -- microscope -- SEM -- TEM
- cell components:
-rganelles: Golgi apparatus -- nucleus -- cytoplasm -- vacuole -- vesicle -- lysosome -- peroxisome -- mitochondrion -- plastid -- chloroplast
membranes: plasma membrane -- endomembrane system -- endoplasmic reticulum -- mitochondrial membrane -- chloroplast membrane
Other subcellular features: cell wall -- pseudopod -- cytoskeleton -- mitotic spindle -- flagellum -- cilium
- organelles: Golgi apparatus -- nucleus -- cytoplasm -- vacuole -- vesicle -- lysosome -- peroxisome -- mitochondrion -- plastid -- chloroplast
- membranes: plasma membrane -- endomembrane system -- endoplasmic reticulum -- mitochondrial membrane -- chloroplast membrane
- Other subcellular features: cell wall -- pseudopod -- cytoskeleton -- mitotic spindle -- flagellum -- cilium
- cell processes:
diffusion -- osmosis -- isotonic -- active transport -- phagocytosis
energy pathways: fermentation -- glycolysis -- cellular respiration -- citric acid cycle -- photosynthesis -- Calvin cycle
protein biosynthesis -- ribosomes
cellular reproduction: cytokinesis -- centromere -- meiosis
nuclear reproduction: mitosis -- interphase -- prophase -- metaphase -- anaphase -- telophase
programmed cell death -- apoptosis -- cell senescence
- diffusion -- osmosis -- isotonic -- active transport -- phagocytosis
- energy pathways: fermentation -- glycolysis -- cellular respiration -- citric acid cycle -- photosynthesis -- Calvin cycle
- protein biosynthesis -- ribosomes
- cellular reproduction: cytokinesis -- centromere -- meiosis
- nuclear reproduction: mitosis -- interphase -- prophase -- metaphase -- anaphase -- telophase
- programmed cell death -- apoptosis -- cell senescence
- Biochemistry :
Biomolecules:
Small: amino acids -- Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) -- fats -- lipids -- oil -- phospholipid -- prion -- sugar -- vitamins -- neurotransmitter -- wax
Medium-sized:
pigments: chlorophyll -- carotenoid -- xanthophyll -- melanin
Biopolymers/macromolecules
proteins: primary structure -- secondary structure -- tertiary structure -- conformation -- native state -- protein folding -- enzyme -- receptor -- transmembrane receptor -- ion channel -- membrane transporter-- collagen -- silk
DNA -- RNA
polysaccharide: cellulose -- carbohydrate -- chitin -- glycogen -- starch
Biochemical mechanisms: proteolysis -- cooperativity
Techniques: electrophoresis -- His tag --affinity chromatography -- x-ray diffraction -- Proteomics -- mass spectrometry
- Biomolecules:
Small: amino acids -- Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) -- fats -- lipids -- oil -- phospholipid -- prion -- sugar -- vitamins -- neurotransmitter -- wax
Medium-sized:
pigments: chlorophyll -- carotenoid -- xanthophyll -- melanin
Biopolymers/macromolecules
proteins: primary structure -- secondary structure -- tertiary structure -- conformation -- native state -- protein folding -- enzyme -- receptor -- transmembrane receptor -- ion channel -- membrane transporter-- collagen -- silk
DNA -- RNA
polysaccharide: cellulose -- carbohydrate -- chitin -- glycogen -- starch
- Small: amino acids -- Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) -- fats -- lipids -- oil -- phospholipid -- prion -- sugar -- vitamins -- neurotransmitter -- wax
- Medium-sized:
pigments: chlorophyll -- carotenoid -- xanthophyll -- melanin
- pigments: chlorophyll -- carotenoid -- xanthophyll -- melanin
- Biopolymers/macromolecules
proteins: primary structure -- secondary structure -- tertiary structure -- conformation -- native state -- protein folding -- enzyme -- receptor -- transmembrane receptor -- ion channel -- membrane transporter-- collagen -- silk
DNA -- RNA
polysaccharide: cellulose -- carbohydrate -- chitin -- glycogen -- starch
- proteins: primary structure -- secondary structure -- tertiary structure -- conformation -- native state -- protein folding -- enzyme -- receptor -- transmembrane receptor -- ion channel -- membrane transporter-- collagen -- silk
- DNA -- RNA
- polysaccharide: cellulose -- carbohydrate -- chitin -- glycogen -- starch
- Biochemical mechanisms: proteolysis -- cooperativity
- Techniques: electrophoresis -- His tag --affinity chromatography -- x-ray diffraction -- Proteomics -- mass spectrometry
- Molecular biology:
genetic structure: DNA -- DNA replication -- nucleosome -- genetic code -- codon -- transcription factor -- transcription -- translation -- RNA -- histone -- telomere
gene expression -- heterochromatin -- promoter -- enhancer -- operon
mutation -- point mutation -- crossover -- recombination --plasmid -- transposon
molecular genetics: DNA fingerprinting -- genetic fingerprint -- microsatellite -- gene knockout-- imprinting -- RNA interference
Genomics: computational biology -- bioinformatics
Molecular Techniques: gel electrophoresis -- transformation -- PCR -- PCR mutagenesis -- primer -- chromosome walking -- RFLP -- restriction enzyme -- sequencing -- shotgun sequencing -- cloning -- culture -- DNA microarray
- genetic structure: DNA -- DNA replication -- nucleosome -- genetic code -- codon -- transcription factor -- transcription -- translation -- RNA -- histone -- telomere
- gene expression -- heterochromatin -- promoter -- enhancer -- operon
- mutation -- point mutation -- crossover -- recombination --plasmid -- transposon
- molecular genetics: DNA fingerprinting -- genetic fingerprint -- microsatellite -- gene knockout-- imprinting -- RNA interference
- Genomics: computational biology -- bioinformatics
- Molecular Techniques: gel electrophoresis -- transformation -- PCR -- PCR mutagenesis -- primer -- chromosome walking -- RFLP -- restriction enzyme -- sequencing -- shotgun sequencing -- cloning -- culture -- DNA microarray
- Genetics (classical genetics) :
heredity -- Mendelian inheritance -- gene -- locus -- trait -- allele -- polymorphism -- homozygote -- heterozygote -- hybrid -- hybridization -- dihybrid cross -- Punnett square
genotype-phenotype distinction -- genotype -- phenotype -- dominant gene -- recessive gene
genetic interactions -- Mendel's law of segregation -- genetic mosaic -- maternal effect -- penetrance -- complementation -- suppression -- epistasis -- genetic linkage
chromosomal effects: chromosome -- haploid -- diploid -- polyploidy -- dosage effect -- inbreeding
Model organisms: Drosophila -- Arabidopsis -- Caenorhabditis elegans -- mouse -- Saccharomyces cerevisiae -- Escherichia coli -- Lambda phage -- Xenopus
Techniques: genetic screen -- paternity test -- linkage map -- genetic map
- heredity -- Mendelian inheritance -- gene -- locus -- trait -- allele -- polymorphism -- homozygote -- heterozygote -- hybrid -- hybridization -- dihybrid cross -- Punnett square
- genotype-phenotype distinction -- genotype -- phenotype -- dominant gene -- recessive gene
- genetic interactions -- Mendel's law of segregation -- genetic mosaic -- maternal effect -- penetrance -- complementation -- suppression -- epistasis -- genetic linkage
- chromosomal effects: chromosome -- haploid -- diploid -- polyploidy -- dosage effect -- inbreeding
- Model organisms: Drosophila -- Arabidopsis -- Caenorhabditis elegans -- mouse -- Saccharomyces cerevisiae -- Escherichia coli -- Lambda phage -- Xenopus
- Techniques: genetic screen -- paternity test -- linkage map -- genetic map

# Influential biologists
Charles Robert Darwin -- Alfred Russel Wallace -- Jean-Baptiste Lamarck -- Sir Charles Lyell -- Alfred Wegener -- Alexander Fleming -- Andrew Huxley -- Robert Koch -- Konrad Lorenz -- Ernst Haeckel -- Theodor Bilharz -- Marcello Malpighi -- Antoni van Leeuwenhoek -- Konrad Lorenz -- Thomas Malthus -- Edward Jenner -- Carolus Linnaeus -- Sewall Wright -- Louis Pasteur -- Gregor Mendel -- Barbara McClintock -- James D. Watson -- Francis Crick -- Kary Mullis -- Rosalind Franklin -- Steven Jay Gould -- Lynn Margulis -- Carl Woese -- Jane Goodall -- E. O. Wilson

# Biology lists
- List of basic cell biology topics