Earth & Life Science

Quarter 2 Module 2
Unifying Themes in the
Study of Life
Levels of Biological
Organization
 Atom

The smallest particle of a substance that can

exist by itself or be combined with other
atoms to form molecule.
 Molecules
These refer to chemical structures that
are composed of two or more atoms.
 Organelles
These are parts of the cell which are
responsible for function and integrity. Some
are membrane bound while others are not.
 Cells
These are the basic working and structural
unit of an organism. Different cells work in
different organs. They are structured
according to function. Organisms can either
be single-celled or multicellular in nature.
 Tissues
These are simply cells grouped together
and performs a specialized function.
 Organ
This is a body part or a part of an
organism which is made up of a group of
tissues. An organ functions, specifically
in a body.
 Organism
This refers to the individual living species.
Each thriving plant or animal is an organism.
 Population
These refer to all individuals of a species
living in a specific area. Let us take for
example a population of crabs living in a
coastal area.
 Community
These are the variety of species inhabiting a
specific area. An example would be a coastal
community. In this community, we would
expect to see a variety of animal and plant
species that thrives in coastal areas. Thus, a
community is a combination of different
populations.
 Ecosystem
These refer to the biotic and abiotic factors
in an area. This includes not only the
interaction between living things but also the
interaction between living and nonliving.
 Biome
A large area characterized by its vegetation,
soil, climate, and wildlife. Example of these
are rainforest, desert, grassland, tundra,
taiga and savanna.
 Biosphere
This consists of all the livable parts of the
earth, by livable, we are referring to all
spaces which is inhabited by life. This
includes spaces in land, water, and air.
Unifying Themes 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.
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.
Biological System
Living things work as a system, at the same
time they cannot be separated from non-
living things since they are both operating as
a system.
A system is an organized group of
interacting parts.

A body system includes organs that interact.

Cellular basis of life
Cells are the basic unit of life, a system of
chemicals and processes; which denotes that
all living things are composed of cells.
Examples are: nerve cell, red blood cell and
gametes.
 Interaction with the
Environment
Living things cannot live alone, their
survival depends on how they interact with
the environment.
Organisms have evolved to live and interact
with other organisms.
Ecology deals with the interactions of living
organisms with one another and their
environment.
 Energy and Life
Living organisms use a source of energy for
their metabolic processes
 Autotrophs

Some living organisms capture the light

energy and convert it into chemical energy
in food.
 Heterotrophs

Some living organisms use chemical energy

stored in molecules obtained from food.
 Form and Function
Organisms’ structure fit with its
environment.
Structure determines function.
Structure is the shape of an organism while
the function is the organism’s specific role.
Reproduction & Inheritance
Traits are being passed from one generation
to the next generation.
The continuity of life depends on the
inheritance of biological information in the
form of DNA molecules.
Reproduction & Inheritance
The genetic information is encoded in the
nucleotide sequences of the DNA
(Deoxyribonucleic acid).
Asexual Reproduction
It does not make use of any gametes or
reproductive cells just like sperm and egg
cell but instead they make use their body
parts to reproduce. It also involved only one
parent.
Sexual Reproduction
Its make use of the sperm and the egg cell
that unite through fertilization to develop
into a full grown individual. It requires two
parent.
 Regulation
Organisms must maintain homeostasis to
survive in diverse environment.
Homeostasis is the maintenance of constant
internal conditions - All living organisms
must live in a stable environment.
 Regulation
Examples:
Pancreas regulates blood sugar level
Evaporation of water helps regulate body
temperature - sweating
Adaptation

Living organisms survive depending on how

one adapt to its changing environment.
Evolution
Evolution is the change in living things over
time. The genetic makeup of a population of
a species changes.
Evolution
It is the process by which different kinds of
living organisms are thought to have
developed and diversified from earlier forms
during the history of the Earth.
Evolution
It accounts for both the diversity and the
unity of life.
Biology and Society
The field of science is changing the lives of
all organisms through research.
 ACTIVITY

Directions: Match the given

statements to its corresponding
unifying themes.