Understanding the Male Reproductive System

General Characteristics

Ontogenesis is a branch of biology that concerns the study of living beings from their fertilization until birth, also called embryology.

Reproduction is a fundamental characteristic of all living things, particularly humans, and has enabled and perpetuated evolution as biological species throughout the history of life.

Humans reproduce sexually, possessing gonads, organs specialized for producing gametes or sex cells. These unite to form the egg cell, called a zygote, from

Read More

Understanding Mutation and Mutagenic Agents

Concept of Mutation

Mutation refers to any modifications or changes occurring in the genetic material that can lead to new manifestations of characteristics in organisms. The individual or cell carrying the mutation is called a mutant.

Key Features of Mutations:

  • They are the source of new genetic characters and increase the genetic variability of organisms.
  • They are heritable, persisting in the offspring when they occur in reproductive cells (germline mutations), transmitting the positive or negative
Read More

Monera, Protozoa, Algae, Fungi & Plant Nutrients: A Comprehensive Look

Monera: Microscopic Prokaryotes

Monera are microscopic, unicellular prokaryotes that reproduce asexually.

Eubacteria: Photosynthetic and Chemotrophic

Photosynthetic:

  1. Cyanobacteria with chlorophyll.
  2. Other bacteria with bacteriochlorophyll; photosynthesis without O2.

Chemotrophy: No light or O2 energy.

Heterotrophic Oxidation: Obtain nutrients from other sources, mostly saprophytic (fermentation), parasites, and symbionts causing diseases.

Archaebacteria

  • Methanogens: Thrive in anaerobic, methane-rich environments.
Read More

Microbiology Terms: A Quick Reference

Here’s a list of key microbiology terms and their definitions:

  • Agal: A polysaccharide extracted from seaweeds.
  • Growth factors: Organic compounds required for growth that an organism cannot synthesize.
  • Aerobic: Organisms that use oxygen as a hydrogen acceptor.
  • Anaerobic: Organisms that use a hydrogen acceptor other than oxygen and are inhibited by oxygen.
  • Aerobic Types:
    • Aerobic Extrista: Organisms that only use oxygen as an acceptor.
    • Microaerophilic: Organisms that require only small amounts of oxygen.
  • Anaerobic
Read More

Animal Breathing: Types and Respiratory Processes

Usually, the inclusion of oxygen into an animal’s body is called breathing, but breathing encompasses three processes:

  1. Ventilation: Oxygen is taken from the environment and brought to the respiratory organ, and carbon dioxide is expelled.
  2. Gas Exchange: This occurs between respiratory organs and blood. The exchange takes place by diffusion, a process by which molecules pass from a more concentrated region to a less concentrated one without expenditure of energy. These regions are separated by a semipermeable
Read More

Cardiovascular and Lymphatic Systems: Diseases

Cardiovascular Diseases

Hypertension (High Blood Pressure): Blood pressure that exceeds normal ranges.

Arteriosclerosis: Hardening of the arteries and loss of elasticity; blood pressure rises, so hypertension may occur.

Atherosclerosis: Cholesterol plaque build-up in the internal walls of the arteries. This leads to the thickening of the affected area.

Aneurysm: Abnormal dilatation of a blood vessel, generally a main artery, which, when it ruptures, can cause death.

Varicose Veins: Abnormal dilatations

Read More