Heredity: Unity Amidst Diversity
different populations sharing the same habitat compose a community. These communities exist
Animals, plants and microorganisms carry the common genetic material DNA, which is
the molecule of life that carries the instructions for assembling protein. Protein is responsible for
forming a variety of structures. The presence of DNA in every living organism explains the unity
of life. DNA differentiates a living organism from non-living thing. The molecular structure of
DNA accounts for its ability to be used as a genetic material.
Living organisms occur in a vast diversity of forms. Around 1.8 million species of
organisms are known. This diversity stems from the differences in DNA sequences they exhibit.
For example, a human contains three billion bases of DNA, which is almost the same number in
the mice. A fruit fly has 130 million DNA bases, while an E. coli bacterium contains only 4.5
million DNA bases. In essence, DNA is the molecule similar to. all living organisms and
responsible for differences; thus, this molecule bring unity amidst diversity.
Living and Interacting
Organization of Life in Vertical Dimension
The scope of life on Earth is so immense, but it can be simplified by viewing it in two
dimensions. The vertical dimension spreads the scope in terms of size scale from the
microscopic DNA inside cells to the macroscopic view of the living sphere of the world, the
biosphere. This dimension follows a path known as the hierarchical levels of biological
organization.
Living things exhibit a high degree of organization from molecular to cellular level. The
cells of animals, plants, fungi, and protists are made up of living protoplasm with organelles and
membranes. each performing an organized activity. Each organelle is made up of a complex
organization of organic compounds like nucleic acids, proteins, carbohydrates, and fats, and also
of inorganic compounds like water. These organic and inorganic compounds are basically made
up of basic elements like carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.
For multicellular organisms such as plants and animals, the level of organization is more
complex. Groups of cells form tissues and different tissues form organs. Different organs
comprise an organ system with a specialized function. An organism is made up of different
organ systems with individualized but coordinated functions.
The hierarchy builds from many molecules making up a cell, many cells performing a
set of function making up a tissue, several kinds of tissues building an organ, several organs
performing a common function, can compose an organ system then several organ systems
function together to make an entire organism.
A group of the same kind of organisms living in an area is called population, while
in an environment affected by both living and nonliving components, which make up an
ecosystem. All ecosystems on Earth, whether they support life on land, water or lower
atmosphere compose the biosphere. All the interactions happening in the distant biosphere down
to the intricacies of the inner cell inspire biologists' attempt to investigate life at its many levels,
shedding light to the many questions about your very own nature.
Organization of Life in Horizontal Dimension
The immensity of the biological realm can also be viewed in a horizontal dimension to
show the diversity and richness of organisms inhabiting our planet. To date, biologists have so
far named and classified about 1.8 million different organisms. Estimates of about 10 million to
200 million organisms are yet to be identified. To make sense of these enormous numbers of
organisms, biologists classified them into three groups known as the three domains of the living
world based on their similar characteristics. Advances in the comparison of DNA sequences led
to the reclassification of organisms into six kingdoms of life (plants, animals, protists, fungi,
archaebacteria, eubacteria), which are organized under the three overarching domains.
Lesson 1.6 Biology Careers in the Twenty-First Century
Studying biology is a must to survive the twenty- first century. With the advancements
in biology and biotechnology, opportunities in the life sciences are as diverse as biology itself. In
the past, the traditional notion of studying biology is limited to being an academician or a
medical doctor. Today, a degree in biology opens the door to a large number of career options.
With the tremendous biological information generated from studies of genomes of different
organisms, computer analysts, and software designers are in demand in a field of biology called
bioinformatics. Lawyers and legal experts specializing in patents and intellectual property rights
are needed as a result of innumerable discoveries and inventions, Molecular biologists are hired
in medicolegal and criminal laboratories.
With the realization that technologies related to life sciences are a major contributor to every
nation's economy, governments are in need of public servants and consultants knowledgeable in
the biological sciences for major government agencies. With the completion of the human
genome project, it is predicted that insurance companies will be in need of geneticists to analyze
the genetic makeup of clients. Even different companies will be in need of human resource
managers with training in biology. The mass media industry needs science reporters, writers, and
editors as a result of the explosion of news and information on the biological sciences. To meet
the increasing demand for food and natural resources, experts and researchers in the field of
agriculture and fisheries are needed. Ecologists needed or the preservation and maintenance of
the environment. At present, many biologists enter the field of research, in a wide array of
biological field. Basic research is often associated with research centers, colleges, universities,
and government agencies, while applied research is done and funded by private companies or
industries. The number of biology researchers who became presidents and chief operating
officers (COO) of their own start-up companies 1S increasing. In most cases, these COOs started
as ordinary researchers in universities or research centers until they decided to commercialize
their own discoveries. Genetic engineers, molecular biologists, biochemists, pharmacologists,
and immunologists are just some examples of biologists chat are in demand at present and in the
near future.
Because of the availability of modern techniques in the study of biology, advances in the
field are moving at a tremendous rate. Noteworthy are the developments in biotechnology and
medicine. Biotechnology deals with the application of biological concepts and systems to make
products beneficial to man. It uses the basic molecules of life to make new products. It is
currently being used in many areas such as business, agriculture, bioremediation, food
processing, energy production, medicine, and pharmaceuticals.
Biotechnology is not a new field as it has been used for decades in the manufacture of
beverages, cheese, bread, and milk. In the Philippines, traditional biotechnology is used in the
production of nata de coco, bagoong, patis, kesong puti, local wines, and vinegars. Today,
biotechnology encompasses manufacturing processes that include the advances in genetic
engineering, such as recombinant DNA technology, monoclonal antibodies, and bioprocess
technology. It applies to any technique that manipulates or mimics a natural process to improve
one's physical and economic well-being.In agriculture, biotechnology is used to increase crop
yield, improve Crop quality, and reduce production costs. Genetically modified (GM) crops such
as seedless watermelons, bananas with longer shelf life, extra- large tomatoes, and vitamin-
fortified corn are now available. Some crops are genetically engineered to fights plant diseases.
Have you heard of rice plants with built-in insecticidal and herbicidal properties? In the fields of
medicine, biotechnology is used in the production of medicines and supplements. The most
common example is insulin that is synthetically produced using E. coli. Transgenic animals are
also products of biotechnology. There are pigs which humanized organs to be used for human
organ transplantation.
Biotechnology has led to the birth of Dolly, the world's first sheep cloned from an adult
somatic cell, who has her firstborn lamb named Bonnie; Millie, the first cloned pig; and Polly,
the first transgenic lamb cloned by nuclear transfer.
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Biology in Daily Life
Introduction
Materials Biology is the study of your body and the environment. It helps you in understanding
the functions and reactions of your body. It also explains your behavior in various situations.
Objective: Identify biological concepts in certain activities that humans perform in everyday
living
Materials
pen and paper
reference materials such as biology books and Internet
Estimated Time Frame: 1 hour
Procedure
1. Your teacher will randomly, divide the entire class into seven groups.
2. Each group will be assigned the following topics to work on:
a. adding a janitor fish in an aquarium with goldfish
b. planting an orchid on a full-grown tree
c. gargling warm water with salt for sore throat
d. adding vinegar and salt when preparing pickled fruits and vegetables
e. scrubbing the skin with a towel when someone has fever
3. Discuss with your groupmates the topic assigned to your group by looking at the biological
principles involved. You may refer to certain biology textbooks or the Internet lo validate your
answers.
4. List the biological principles involved in the topic assigned to your group.
5. Report in class the results of your discussions.
Post-laboratory Questions
1. Other than those discussed in the class, give another example of your daily activities most
likely involve some biological principles.
2. Explain why tears naturally come out of your eye when you slice onions. Do you think there is
a way to prevent this tear secretion when slicing onions?