Books and Articles by Rene Fester Kratz

Ecology is the science of how life on Earth connects and sustains itself. This cheat sheet breaks down the key fundamentals — from how energy flows through food webs and matter cycles through ecosystems, to how communities form, change over time, and depend on species interactions — giving you a solid foundation in ecological thinking.

Fungi may be the most mysterious and powerful organisms on the planet. Most of the time, they grow almost invisibly through the soil below your feet, decomposing plant matter. The study of fungi is known as mycology (myco=fungus, logy=study of). The following cheat sheet provides a few concepts to get you started on your journey into the world of fungi and their role in Earth’s ecosystems.

Botany is the study of plants. Plants are very similar to people in a lot of ways, but they also have some differences that can be hard to wrap your brain around. And, like any science class, botany can get a little overwhelming at times. So, here are a few items to help you grasp some of the big ideas in botany.

Genetics is a complex field with lots of details to keep straight. But when you get a handle on some key terms and concepts, including the structure of DNA and the laws of inheritance, you can start putting the pieces together for a better understanding of genetics.The scientific language of geneticsFrom chromosomes to DNA to dominant and recessive alleles, learning the language of genetics is equivalent to learning the subject itself.

Plant cells communicate with each other via messengers called hormones, chemical signals produced by cells that act on target cells to control their growth or development. Plant hormones control many of the plant behaviors you’re used to seeing, such as the ripening of fruit, the growth of shoots upward and roots downward, the growth of plants toward the light, the dropping of leaves in the fall, and the growth and flowering of plants at particular times of the year.

Recombinant DNA technology can be controversial. People, including scientists, worry about the ethical, legal, and environmental consequences of altering the DNA code of organisms: Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) that contain genes from a different organism are currently used in agriculture, but some people are concerned about the following potential impacts on wild organisms and on small farms: Genetically modified plants may interbreed with wild species, transferring genes for pesticide resistance to weeds.