biological process
Living system function
A biological process is any activity or series of changes occurring within a living organism—metabolism, respiration, cell division, digestion, reproduction.
The term appears in scientific contexts to distinguish life's chemical and physical operations from mechanical or artificial ones: Aging is a biological process we don't fully understand.
In legal and ethical discussions, biological processes often contrast with human intervention: Should we interfere with biological processes?
Recognizing meaningful differences
- morphogenesisDevelopmental shape emergence
- embryogenesisFormation of early life
- organogenesisEmbryonic tissue becoming structures
- gastrulationEmbryo forms primary layers
neurogenesis · cell fate · induction · maturation · germination · metamorphosis · ontogeny · life cycle
Parent splitting into offspring
- mitosisNuclear division producing identical cells
- proliferationRapid increase in quantity
- hypertrophyTissue enlargement via cells
- elongationIncrease in length
auxins · growth factors · tissue growth · biomass · hyperplasia · growth rate · cell cycle
Reaction-speeding proteins
- catabolismMetabolic molecular dismantling
- anabolismMetabolic construction of molecules
- glycolysisGlucose metabolism producing ATP
- ATPCell's energy molecule
cellular respiration · oxidation · mitochondria · glucose · biochemistry · digestion · nutrients · amino acids
State of balance
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
- thermoregulationMaintaining stable internal heat
- osmoregulationMaintaining internal solute balance
- feedback loopsSelf-modifying response cycles
balance · stability · insulin · pH balance · blood pressure · electrolyte balance · negative feedback · positive feedback
Gamete fusion creating zygote
- gametesReproductive cells for fusion
- zygoteFirst embryonic cell
- meiosisGamete-producing cell division
- pollinationFlower reproductive transfer
conception · mating · spawning · copulation · breeding · offspring · cloning · asexual reproduction
Differential reproductive success
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
- speciationFormation of distinct species
- mutationPermanent DNA alteration
- phylogenyEvolutionary relationships among organisms
divergence · genetic drift · gene flow · common ancestor · fossil record · extinction · heritability · fitness
differentiation
Recognizing meaningful differences
- morphogenesisDevelopmental shape emergence
- embryogenesisFormation of early life
- organogenesisEmbryonic tissue becoming structures
gastrulation · neurogenesis · cell fate · induction · maturation · germination · metamorphosis · ontogeny · life cycle · puberty
cell division
Parent splitting into offspring
- mitosisNuclear division producing identical cells
- proliferationRapid increase in quantity
- hypertrophyTissue enlargement via cells
elongation · auxins · growth factors · tissue growth · biomass · hyperplasia · growth rate · cell cycle
enzymes
Reaction-speeding proteins
- catabolismMetabolic molecular dismantling
- anabolismMetabolic construction of molecules
- glycolysisGlucose metabolism producing ATP
ATP · cellular respiration · oxidation · mitochondria · glucose · biochemistry · digestion · nutrients · amino acids · fatty acids
equilibrium
State of balance
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
- thermoregulationMaintaining stable internal heat
- osmoregulationMaintaining internal solute balance
feedback loops · balance · stability · insulin · pH balance · blood pressure · electrolyte balance · negative feedback · positive feedback · set point
fertilization
Gamete fusion creating zygote
pollination · conception · mating · spawning · copulation · breeding · offspring · cloning · asexual reproduction · sexual reproduction
natural selection
Differential reproductive success
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
- speciationFormation of distinct species
- mutationPermanent DNA alteration
phylogeny · divergence · genetic drift · gene flow · common ancestor · fossil record · extinction · heritability · fitness · coevolution
biological processman-made
Created by humans
industrial process · artificial intelligence · machine learning · automation · fabrication
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