Biology
Biology is the scientific study of life and living organisms. It forms the foundation for understanding how to establish, maintain, and evolve ecosystems in terraforming projects, from microbial communities to complex food webs.
Fundamental Principles
Life Characteristics
- Cellular organization - basic unit of life
- Metabolism - energy processing and chemical reactions
- Growth and reproduction - continuation of species
- Adaptation - response to environmental changes
- Evolution - genetic change over time
Biological Systems
- Molecular biology - DNA, proteins, and cellular machinery
- Ecology - organism-environment interactions
- Physiology - organism function and processes
- Genetics - inheritance and genetic variation
Terraforming Applications
Ecosystem Design
- Food web construction and stability
- Nutrient cycling establishment
- Primary productivity optimization
- Biodiversity planning for resilience
Organism Selection
- Pioneer species for initial colonization
- Keystone species for ecosystem stability
- Extremophile adaptation for harsh conditions
- Agricultural species for food production
Biological Engineering
- Genetic modification for environmental adaptation
- Synthetic biology for novel functions
- Conservation biology for species preservation
- Population dynamics for sustainable ecosystems
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