Alfred Ajibola
- 18th May, 2026 @ 03:15 AM
Topics in Basic Science
Classifications of Drugs, Sources of Drugs and Drug Abuse Teeth, Structure of the Tooth, Dentition and Dental Care Balanced Diet, Classes of Food and their Importance Classes of Food, their Composition and Functions Nutrition: Types and Class of Food Cleanliness of parts of the body Family Health and Personal Cleanliness Behaviors and Feelings during Adolescence Pubertal changes in Boys and Girls Classification and Uses of Rubber Characteristics, Classification and Uses of Plastics Cement: Composition, Types and Uses of Cement Types, Properties and Uses of Ceramics Properties and Uses of Nonmetals Safety Devices: Examples and Uses of Safety Devices Accident Prevention Techniques and Safety Rules Safety Precautions for Pedestrians, Cyclists and Motorists Technology: Benefits of Technology Alloys: Types, Composition and Uses of Alloys Ferrous and Non-Ferrous MetalsAcademic Questions in Basic Science
Which of the following diseases is associated with river blindness?
A. Anthrax
B. Lawnmower Disease
C. Onchocerciasis
D. Devil's Crunch
E. Trypanosomiasis
F. Tularemia
The vector for yellow fever is _____.
A. Aedes Mosquito
B. Female Anopheles Mosquito
C. Plasmodium
D. Flavivirus
E. Black Fly
F. Bacillus Anthracis
The bones of the head and face make up the skull. These bones are _____ in number.
A. 12
B. 14
C. 16
D. 18
E. 20
F. 22
Bacteria are not a constituent of our environment.
A. True
B. False
Below are types of drugs. Which of these is considered as pain killers?
A. Stimulants
B. Depressants
C. Opiods and Morphine Derivatives
D. Hallucinogens
E. Anabolic Steroids
F. Cannabinoids
Which of the following statement is false concerning drugs?
A. Drugs can be inhaled
B. Drugs can be injected directly into the bloodstream
C. Drugs can be eaten
D. Drugs exist exclusively in the forms of tablets and syrups
E. Drugs can be placed under the tongue
F. Drugs can be taken with water or another liquid
Vaccination involves a process of introducing pathogens or germs into a person in order to prevent such person from the diseases they cause.
A. True
B. False
With regards to the human health, foreign bodies are best regarded as _____.
A. International bodies
B. Antilators
C. Antibodies
D. Antigens
E. Antibiotics
F. Antidotes
Cell is defined as the smallest, fundamental, structural and functional unit of life. All living things are made up one or more cells. Cells are the building blocks of plants and animals.
There are generally two types of cells. These are:
Plant cell
Animal cell
Please read detailed explanation on the concept of cell here.
Organisms can also be grouped based on number of cells they are comprised of. In this regard, we have unicellular organisms (or single-celled organism) and multicellular organisms.
Unicellular Organism or Single-celled Organism: These are organisms made up of only one cell. They are microscopic in nature. Examples include bacteria, amoeba, euglena, plasmodium, yeast, chlamydomonas, paramecium etc.
Multicellular Organism: These are organism comprising of more than one cell. Examples include all 'true' plants (e.g shrubs, apple, orange and tomato plants), most fungi (e.g mushrooms, toadstools and molds) and animals like insects, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals.
Please read on cell theory here in biology here.
The image below shows the structure of a plant cell and an animal cell:
You can read on the differences between plant and animal cell here.
Note: A specialized membrane-bound structure that makes up different parts of a cell, with each part performing a specific, essential functions within the cell is termed an organelle. You can think of organelles as 'little organs', analogous to how organs function within the body.
Please read on cell organelles here.
The nucleus stores the hereditary information contained within the cell. It also direct the entire activity of the cell. Cells are divided into two based on the presence or absence of a well defined nucleus. These are prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell respectively.
Please read on prokaryotic cell here.
The chlorophyll traps sunlight for photosynthesis, and it gives the plant's leaf its characteristics green coloration. The chlorophyll is located in the chloroplast. Photosynthesis occurs in the thylakoid membrane of the chloroplast. Both the chlorophyll and chloroplasts are found only in plant cells.
The vacuole helps to remove excess water from the cell. A plant cell has a large centrally placed vacuole, while animal cells have small scattered vacuoles within their cytoplasm.
The cell wall is a rigid, protective outer layer located outside the plasma membrane (or cell membrane) in plant, fungi, bacteria, and algae cells. It provides structural support, rigidity, and protection against osmotic pressure. Since the plant's cell wall is primarily made up of cellulose, they are often termed as 'cellulose cell wall'. The cell wall is absent in animal cells.
Please read on classification and differences between plants and animals here.
The cell membrane, also called the plasma membrane, cytoplasmic membrane or plasmalemma, acts as a semi-permeable membrane that selectively permits certain substance to enter and leave the cell. It is the outermost layer of an animal cell. It also offer protection and support to cells.
The lysosomes function as the "garbage disposal" and digestive system of the cell. Simply put, it destroys and digests unwanted material in the cell. Lysosomes are typically absent in plant cell. It's function is replaced by the vacuole in plants.
The mitochondria are sausage-shaped, double-membrane organelles, often termed as the 'powerhouse of the cell.' This is so because it generates over 90% of the chemical energy (ATP) needed to power biochemical reactions in the organism.
Please read cellular respiration in biology here.
The ribosomes are responsible for synthesizing proteins in the cell. They do this by translating messenger RNA (mRNA) into amino acid chains. This protein synthesis is crucial for cell repair, chemical processes, and growth. Presence of ribosomes on the endoplasmic reticulum makes it 'rough'.
The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) are put into two types. These are the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) and the smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER). The function of the RER is to secrete, modify and transport proteins to other parts of the cell; e g, cell membrane and lysosomes. The smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) functions to synthesize lipids, phospholipids, and steroids. It detoxifies harmful substances and stores calcium ions, while also playing a key role in carbohydrate metabolism.
The golgi bodies (or golgi apparatus) is located near the endoplasmic reticulum. It functions as the 'post office' of the cell by processing, sorting, and packaging proteins and lipids into vesicles for secretion or delivery to other organelles.
The centrioles are organelles found very close to the nucleus. They replicate and move to opposite poles of the cell, where they organize the spindle fibers needed to separate chromosomes during mitosis.
Please read on the characteristics of living things here.
| Plant Cell | Animal Cell |
| Plant cell has rigid cellulose cell wall as its external membrane | It has a flexible cell membrane present as its external membrane. |
| Presence of chloroplast and chlorophyll for photosynthesis | Absense of chloroplast and chlorophyll since animals do not photosynthesize. |
| Energy is stored as starch | Energy is stored as glycogen |
| A large centrally placed a vacoule is present, and this regulates tugor pressure in plants | Large centrally placed vacoule is absent. Rather, small and scattered vacuoles may be present |
| It typically lack locomotary organelles like cilia and flagella | It may have locomotary organelles like cilia and flagella |
| It has a thick or paste-like cytoplasm | lt has a fluidy cytoplasm |
| Plant cell is typically rectangular or cubic in shape | Animal cells are round or irregular in shape. |
| Lysosomes are typically absent in a plant cell | Lysosomes are present in animal cell. They function to digest waste |
| Centrosomes are typically absent in higher plant cells | Centrosomes are present in animal cell, and are involved in mitosis |
| Plant cells make use of plasmodesmata to connect and communicate with adjacent cells. | Animal cells make use of use gap junctions, tight junctions, and desmosomes for communication with adjacent cells |
You can read on the classification of matter here.
They both have cell membrane and nuclear membrane.
They both have golgi bodies.
They both have well defined nucleus.
They both have mitochondria.
They both have endoplasmic reticulum.
You can read on the change of state of matter here.
They both have ribosomes.
They both have peroxisomes for breaking down fatty acids and harmful substances.
They both possess a defined, membrane-bound nucleus that houses their genetic material. Simply put, they are both eukaryotic cells.
Please read basic science week 4 topic for Jss1 first term here.
Please read basic science scheme of work for jss1 first term here.
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Amazing facts in Basic Science
According to scientific research, if the first tear drop comes from the right eye, it’s tears of joy. If it comes from the left eye, then it is as a result of pain
Dentistry is the oldest profession in the world. This is considered true because a research conducted by the University of Bologna, Italy on a 14,000-year-old skull found that one rotten tooth in the jaw had been deliberately scoured and scraped with a dental tool
Scientific research has it that the human nose can distinguish more than a trillion different odors
Tigers have striped fur. So also is their skin
The most common wild bird in the world is native to Africa, and it's the red-billed quelea with a population estimated to be around 1.5 billion
Of all animals, mosquitoes hold the record of killing most humans annually. They are responsible for the deaths of 725,000 - 1,000,000 persons yearly
Antibiotics fights and kills bacteria. However, they do nothing to a virus
All insects have six legs. However, dragonfly has six legs but can't walk
The chin is defined as the protruding part of the face below the mouth, formed by the apex of the lower lip. It is shown below:
Interestingly, humans are the only animals with chin
Ripe cranberries will bounce like a ball. For this reason, they are nicknamed 'bounceberries'. They will also float in water
Notable points in Basic Science
We have six classes of food. These are:
Carbohydrates
Proteins
Fats and Oils
Vitamins
Mineral Salts
Water
In humans, roughages are not classified as one of the classes of food. This is so because they aren't digested. Instead, roughages facilitate the movement of bowels in the large intestine (colon); and for this reason, they can become useful in treating constipation.
Food refers to anything that is ingested by living organisms, giving them nutrients and thus enabling them to stay alive.
As an instance, 99% of a panda's diet is bamboo. In this case, bamboo is considered as food to a panda since it provides a source of nutrient and keeps it alive. This is shown in the image below:
The only process in nature that actively enriches our atmosphere with oxygen is photosynthesis. Every other process like respiration, burning and combustion takes away oxygen from it. In addition, they introduce carbon(IV)oxide (CO2) into the atmosphere.
Photosynthesis is also the only process that takes away carbon(IV)oxide (CO2) from the atmosphere.
Photosynthesis is defined as a process by which green plants manufacture food by utilizing carbon(IV)oxide and water in the presence of sunlight.
Oxygen is given off as a by-product of photosynthesis. In regards to this, it is recommended that each person plants a tree.
Matter is composed of particles which can be:
Tightly packed together (as seen in solids).
Loosely packed together (as seen in liquids).
Completely separated (as seen in gases).
The movement of the particles of matter is a function of the overall kinetic energy present in them. You can think of kinetic energy as energy in motion.
An increase in the particles' vibrational, rotational or translational motion will imply an increase in temperature while a decrease in the particles motion (vibrational, rotational and translational) will mean a decrease in temperature. Based on this knowledge, we can therefore define temperature as the measure of the average kinetic energy possessed by the particles of matter.
Intelligence Quotient (IQ) is a score derived from a set of standardized tests developed to measure a person's cognitive abilities in relation to their age group.
IQ may also be defined as the ratio of mental age (MA) to chronological age (CA) multiplied by 100.
Below are some formulas pertaining Intelligence Quotient:
IQ = MA x 100 ÷ CA
MA = Mental age
CA = Chronological age
IQ above 100 = Brilliance
IQ that equals 100 = Average
IQ below 100 = Below Average