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The document outlines the unifying themes in the study of life, emphasizing the interconnectedness of various biological disciplines. It discusses key concepts such as the importance of systems, structure and function, homeostasis, evolution, and the role of scientific inquiry in understanding life. Additionally, it highlights the significance of both biotic and abiotic factors in ecosystems and the necessity of valuing life through informed decisions.
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
15 views4 pagesModule 2
The document outlines the unifying themes in the study of life, emphasizing the interconnectedness of various biological disciplines. It discusses key concepts such as the importance of systems, structure and function, homeostasis, evolution, and the role of scientific inquiry in understanding life. Additionally, it highlights the significance of both biotic and abiotic factors in ecosystems and the necessity of valuing life through informed decisions.
Uploaded by
Norlainie UsmanCopyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Mindanao State University
Siawadato Community High School
Maguing Lanao del Sur
1st Semester, AY 2024-2025
LESSON 1: Unifying Themes in the Study of Life
Earth is the home of organisms including animals, plants and
microorganisms. They are found in the different parts of the planet. The
ecosystems-the biological communities- include living organisms (biotic
factors) like animals, plants, insects and bacteria (interacting to its
environment), as well as the non-living components (abiotic factors) like
the rock, soil, water and sunlight. Non-living things are classified as
inanimate objects that may influence, alter or impact the life of biotic
factors. These abiotic factors are essential to biotic factors in various
ways.
The field of science that deals with the study of life is the Life Science or
Biology. It involves different disciplines. These disciplines are connected
to one another, through which biologist termed as unifying themes.
This module emphasizes these unifying themes that serve as the bases of
the study of Life Science. The ten unifying themes include: emergent
properties, the cell, the heritable information, structure or function,
interaction with the environment, regulation, unity and diversity,
evolution, scientific inquiry, and the science, technology and society.
More so, this module explores how organisms interact with one another
and its environment.
The unifying theme connects the different subdisciplines that make
biology as a science. In addition to, the living organisms differ from non-
living organisms in various aspects. What are these shared properties (of
living organisms) that make something “alive”?
1. All levels of life have systems of related parts.
- A system is an organized group of interacting parts.
- A cell is a system of chemicals and processes. It is the basic unit of life.
- A body system includes organs that interact.
- An ecosystem includes living and non-living things that interact.
2. Structure and function are related in biology.
- Structure determines function.
- The structure is the shape of the object.
- The function is the object’s specific role.
3. Organisms must maintain homeostasis to survive in diverse
environments.
- Homeostasis is the maintenance of constant internal conditions.
- All living organisms must live in a stable environment.
4. Evolution explains the unity and diversity of life.
- Evolution is the change in living things over time. The genetic makeup
of a population of a species changes.
- It accounts for both the diversity and the unity of life.
5. Traits are being inherited and transferred.
- The continuity of life depends on the inheritance of biological
information in the form of DNA molecules.
- The genetic information is encoded in the nucleotide sequences of the
DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid).
6. Organisms reproduce.
- It is necessary part of living; process of making more of one’s own kind.
7. Organisms are interdependent with one another.
- Organisms have evolved to live and interact with other organisms.
- Ecology deals with the interactions of living organisms with one another
and their environment.
8. Organisms acquire and process energy.
- Living organisms use a source of energy for their metabolic activities.
- Some living organisms capture the light energy and convert it into
chemical energy in food.
- Some living organisms use chemical energy stored in molecules obtained
from food.
In addition to the properties mentioned, the two additional unifying
themes in the study of life include the scientific inquiry and science,
technology and society.
9. Scientific Inquiry
- The process of science includes observation-based discovery and the
testing of explanations through the hypothetic-deductive.
- Scientific credibility depends on the repeatability of observation and
experiments.
10. Science, Technology and Society
- Many technologies are goal-oriented applications of science.
- The relationships of science and technology to society are now more
crucial to understand than ever before.
Key Concepts
Understanding how life came about is a deep scientific undertaking.
Organisms’ function, structures, growth and origin are indeed one of many
diverse topics that should be explored to grasp the complexities of life.
Generally, the following statements provide key concepts on the unifying
themes in the study of life.
1. Biology is about the study of life.
2. The unifying themes connect the different subdisciplines that make up
biology as a science.
3. The unifying themes of biology comprise the cell theory as a
description of living systems, continuity of life, interdependence of
function and structure, evolution, unity of living systems and the
properties that arise from the organization of life.
4. The living organisms are composed of cells as what was discussed in
the cell theory. The cell theory is the foundation of our understanding of
reproduction and growth of organisms.
5. The continuity of life is best explained by the molecular basis of
inheritance. Heredity, which is the continuity of life from one generation
to the next, is dependent on correct copying of cell’s DNA into daughter
cells.
6. The function and structure are interdependent.
7. The evolutionary change give rise to the diversity of life.
8. Living organisms (biotic factors) are dependent on its environment
which consists of non-living organisms (abiotic factors). Living organisms
also interact with other living organisms.
9. Biotic factors (living things) are defined by set of characteristics
including the ability to reproduce, grow, move and ability to adapt to its
environment. They need food, water and other abiotic factors for their
growth and development.
10. Abiotic factors are inanimate objects which include rocks, water,
weather and other living things present in the environment.
11. Biological systems are organized.
12. The study of Biology is important. It enables us to make appropriate
decisions in life. Failure to grasp biological concepts lead into an
inappropriate decision.
13. One must value life by taking good care of all beings, humans, plants
and animals.