Frequently asked questions
Answers about using LearnViz Biology, studying biology and tracking progress.
Using LearnViz Biology
How is the content organised?
Topics are grouped into 20 areas such as Cell Biology, Genetics and Ecology. Each topic is tagged Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced, so you can follow a path from fundamentals to specialist material.
Where should a complete beginner start?
Open Learn, pick Cell Biology, and filter by Beginner. Then continue with Genetics, Ecology and Human Physiology before moving to the Intermediate level.
How does search work?
Press / or Ctrl+K anywhere and start typing. Search matches titles, explanations and area names, tolerates small spelling mistakes, and ranks title matches first.
Is my progress saved?
Yes. Studied topics, bookmarks, quiz scores and test history are stored in your browser's local storage. Nothing is sent to a server.
How do I reset my progress?
Open the Progress page and press Reset progress at the bottom.
What is the difference between a quiz and a test?
A quiz gives instant feedback after each answer. A test is timed, shows results only at the end, and records a graded score.
Where do the questions come from?
They are generated from the topic explanations: either you identify the term from its description, or choose the description that fits a term. Wrong options come from the same area.
Cells & Genetics
What is the difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells?
Prokaryotes lack a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, while eukaryotes have a nucleus and organelles such as mitochondria and the Golgi apparatus.
Why are cells so small?
As a cell grows, its volume increases faster than its surface area, so exchange of materials becomes too slow. Small cells keep a high surface-area-to-volume ratio.
What is the difference between mitosis and meiosis?
Mitosis gives two identical diploid cells for growth and repair. Meiosis gives four genetically different haploid cells for sexual reproduction.
What is the difference between a gene and an allele?
A gene is a stretch of DNA coding for a trait. Alleles are different versions of that gene, such as the allele for blue or brown eyes.
Are dominant alleles always the most common?
No. Dominance describes how an allele is expressed, not how frequent it is. Polydactyly is dominant but rare, for example.
What is the difference between DNA and RNA?
DNA is double-stranded, uses deoxyribose and thymine and stores genetic information. RNA is usually single-stranded, uses ribose and uracil and carries out protein synthesis roles.
What does CRISPR do?
CRISPR-Cas9 uses a guide RNA to lead the Cas9 enzyme to a chosen DNA sequence, where it cuts so the gene can be disabled, repaired or replaced.
Do mutations always cause disease?
No. Many mutations are silent or neutral. Some are harmful, and a few are beneficial and drive evolution.
Evolution & Ecology
Is evolution just a theory?
In science a theory is a well-tested explanation supported by large amounts of evidence. Evolution by natural selection is supported by fossils, genetics, anatomy and direct observation.
Do individuals evolve?
No. Individuals do not evolve; populations do, as allele frequencies change over generations.
What does survival of the fittest mean?
Fitness refers to reproductive success, not strength. The fittest are those who leave the most surviving offspring.
Did humans evolve from monkeys?
No. Humans and modern apes share a common ancestor that lived millions of years ago. Neither evolved from the other.
What is the difference between a food chain and a food web?
A food chain is a single line of feeding relationships. A food web joins many chains showing how energy really flows in a community.
Why is only 10 percent of energy passed on in a food chain?
Most energy is used for life processes or lost as heat, and some parts of organisms are not eaten or digested.
What is a keystone species?
A species whose impact on its ecosystem is far greater than its numbers would suggest, such as sea otters protecting kelp forests.
How does climate change affect biodiversity?
It shifts ranges, alters timing of seasonal events, bleaches coral and raises extinction risk for species that cannot adapt or move.
Human Body & Health
How do vaccines work?
They expose the immune system to a harmless form or part of a pathogen so memory cells form, enabling a fast response to real infection.
Why don't antibiotics work on viruses?
Antibiotics target bacterial structures and processes such as cell walls and ribosomes. Viruses lack these and replicate inside host cells.
What is the difference between an artery and a vein?
Arteries carry blood away from the heart under high pressure with thick muscular walls. Veins return blood at low pressure and have valves.
How does insulin control blood sugar?
After a meal, insulin makes cells absorb glucose and the liver store it as glycogen, lowering blood glucose.
Why do we need sleep?
Sleep supports memory consolidation, tissue repair, immune function and clearance of metabolic waste from the brain.
What is the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes?
Type 1 is autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing cells. Type 2 involves insulin resistance and is strongly linked to lifestyle and genetics.
Why do we get fevers?
Raised temperature, triggered by signals from immune cells, can slow some pathogens and make immune responses more effective.
What do mitochondria do?
They produce most of the cell's ATP through aerobic respiration, and also take part in calcium signalling and programmed cell death.
Study Tips
How can I remember so many biology terms?
Use active recall and spaced repetition: take quizzes regularly, explain concepts aloud, and link each new term to a process or example you already know.
How often should I take tests?
Take a short quiz after studying each area, then a timed test weekly. Revisit topics you got wrong two or three days later.
Should I memorise or understand?
Understand first. Biology is full of cause and effect, so knowing why something happens makes the facts easier to remember.
How do I read graphs in biology exams?
Check axis labels and units, describe the overall trend, quote values from the graph, and explain the biology behind the shape.
What are the labs for?
They let you change variables such as growth rate or enzyme concentration and see the result instantly, building intuition for equations and curves.
Getting the Most Out of LearnViz
Can I use LearnViz without creating an account?
Yes. Topics, quizzes, tests and labs open directly, and your progress is kept in your own browser.
Why does the quiz show the answer straight away?
Immediate feedback helps you correct a misunderstanding before it sticks. The timed test is the mode that hides answers until the end.
What do the Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced labels mean?
They describe how much prior knowledge a topic assumes. Beginner topics introduce core vocabulary, Intermediate topics explain mechanisms, and Advanced topics assume you already know both.
Can I study on my phone?
Yes. The layout adapts to small screens, and the search, quizzes and tests all work in a mobile browser.
How do I find a topic quickly?
Press / or Ctrl+K and type part of the name. Search also matches explanations and area names, so you can search for a concept, not just a title.
Why are some topics marked as studied and others not?
You mark a topic as studied by pressing Mark as studied on its page. Nothing is marked automatically when you read it.
Can I bookmark topics to revisit?
Yes. Press Bookmark on a topic page, and find all saved topics under My Space, then Bookmarks.
Is LearnViz a replacement for my textbook or teacher?
No. It is a revision and exploration tool. Use it alongside your course material, and check important facts against authoritative sources.
Biology Basics
What is biology?
Biology is the scientific study of living things: their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution and interactions with their environment.
What makes something alive?
Living things are generally made of cells, use energy, grow, respond to their surroundings, reproduce and maintain stable internal conditions. Viruses are a debated edge case because they do not do most of these things on their own.
What is the difference between a hypothesis and a theory in biology?
A hypothesis is a testable prediction for one question. A theory, such as the theory of evolution, is a well-tested explanation supported by many independent lines of evidence.
Why do scientists use model organisms?
Model organisms such as E. coli, yeast, fruit flies, zebrafish and mice are easy to grow and study, and they share many genes and processes with other life. Results from them often generalise, although not always.
What is the difference between a variable and a control?
An independent variable is the factor you change, a dependent variable is what you measure, and a control is kept the same so that any change can be attributed to the factor you changed.