University of Puerto Rico

Cayey

Biology 3001

Professor Eneida Díaz

Delaine M. Zayas-Bazán Burgos June 11th, 2012

Unifying themes of Biology

Theme Property of life

Organisms interact with each other

Organisms and the physical environment

Reproduction

Organisms interact with each other in their own species to reproduce

and by this perpetuate the specie.

Response to the environment

Organisms interact with other organisms

that are present in their environment to find food and

shelter among many others.

Theme Property of life

Life requires energy transfer and transformation

Energy Processing

Organisms need energy to live. Chemical energy is

transferred between all organisms in order for them to realize

the corresponding functions that would keep them alive.

Structure and function are correlated at all levels of biological

organization

Order

Life is characterized by a highly organized structure. This structure

is responsible of the proper functioning of organisms, and their

systems from cells to organs.

The cell is an organism’s basic unit of structure and function

Order

Cells are the basic unit of the highly organized structure that is found

in all living beings. Every organism, system, organ system, organ and

tissue is composed by cells and carries out their work based on the

functioning of cells.

The continuity of life is based on heritable information in the form

of DNA

Growth and development

Organisms grow and develop according to the genetic

information, in form of DNA, they inherit from their progenitors.

New properties emerge at each level in the biological hierarchy

Growth and development

The DNA transmitted from parents to offspring determines

from their physical appearance to their illness or health conditions.

The DNA sequences carry all of the information in their genes;

analyzing these sequences could reveal in detail the growth and

development of diverse organisms.

Theme Property of life

Feedback mechanisms regulate biological systems

Regulation

Regulation controls diverse aspects like the temperature of the

organism and the expulsion of waste. Feedback is responsible of

the regulation, as well as of diverse biological systems and their

processes.

Evolution accounts for the unity and diversity of life

Evolutionary adaption

Evolution permits the adaption of organisms to their

environment. These adaptations, in some cases, led to the

emergence of new species creating the phenomenon of

diversity of the species among the same family unit.