Animals are amazing creatures! They have many ways of using their bodies to survive in their homes. All animals have body parts that help them to survive in their habitats. For example, some animals have sharp claws to help them catch their prey for food. Others have long legs to help them run away from […]
Evolution is a foundational principle within biology that forms the basis for many other theories. The theory of evolution was first described by Charles Darwin, a scientist who lived during the 19th century. Darwin’s theory proposed that all species on Earth have descended from a common ancestor and that new species arise through the process […]
Everything in the Universe has gravity, including you! Gravity attracts objects toward each other. The larger an object is, the more gravity it has. For example, a star, like the Sun has significantly more gravity than an asteroid. Like all fields, including magnetism, static electricity, and yes, gravity, the attractive force increases the closer you […]
All living things must have energy in order to carry on the functions of life. This energy comes mostly from a sugar, which is produced deep within plant cells, in an organelle called Chloroplasts. These chloroplasts are unique in that they have the ability to change sunlight into chemical energy that can be used by […]
The American bison is a large, shaggy-haired mammal that once roamed across North America in huge herds. Today, it is mostly found in national parks and other protected areas. The European bison is a similar animal that lives in Europe. Both species are endangered. Bison are important to native Americans, who use every part of […]
Living things interact with their environments. This includes cells, which take in nutrients and expel waste. They do this through active and passive transport. Active transport requires energy, while passive transport does not. Examples of active transport include cells taking in glucose against a concentration gradient. Meaning that the cell must use energy to bring […]
Transcription is the process of converting DNA into RNA. In transcription, an enzyme called RNA polymerase reads the DNA and creates a complementary RNA strand. This RNA strand is then used as a template for protein synthesis. Translation is the process of converting RNA into proteins. In translation, ribosomes read the RNA and create proteins […]
The cell is the basic unit of life. All living things are made out of them. Cells come from other cells. The way that cells divide is through mitosis. Mitosis is the process by which a cell duplicates itself, producing two identical daughter cells. This process is essential for the growth and repair of tissues […]
Fungi are a type of organism that is classified separately from plants. They are distinguished by their lack of chlorophyll, which allows them to obtain nutrients in different ways than plants. Many fungi live in symbiotic relationships with other organisms, such as trees, and help to decompose dead matter. Decomposers are organisms that break down […]
Plants are a vital part of the ecosystem and play a significant role in human life. There are many different types of plants, but they all share some basic characteristics. All plants are autotrophs, meaning they can produce their own food through photosynthesis. Plants have chloroplasts in their cells, which help them convert sunlight into […]
