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Unifying Themes in the Study of Biology
Biology came from the words bios which means life and logos which means to know
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Biological science is vast
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It attempts to understand how living things function, reproduce,
metabolize and evolve over time
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Theme 1: Emergent properties develop at each level of the Biological Hierarchy
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These properties are results of the arrangement and interactions of biological
components
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The bicycle has wheels, pedal, chain and sprockets
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Even a complete set of bicycle parts cannot be ridden unless the
parts are arranged in a specific manner which allows the correct interaction of the parts
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A muscle, such as the triceps, has the ability to contract but it cannot perform complex tasks
such as throwing a ball or running
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The human triceps can contract to extend
the forearm, a function that is antagonistic
to the function of the biceps brachii
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Dela Cruz

Complex motion can only be achieved
through

the

contraction

of

multiple

muscles
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To fully understand biological systems, biologist combine reductionism with systems biology
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For example, to study a marine
ecosystem, biologist must study marine organisms as well as the conditions in the environment
individually but to completely understand this ecosystem, biologist also have to learn the interaction
of the marine organisms with each other and with the abiotic components of the environment
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Theme 2: Life’s Processes involves the transmission and expression of Genetic
information
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All of an organism’s
anatomical and physiological properties are encoded in the DNA
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The central dogma of biology highlights the fact that all biological
processes, structures, and characteristics are coded in the DNA
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The RNA strand is then used to form a protein with the correct
sequence of amino acid (correct primary structure)
The expression of genetic information in the DNA involves two processes: transcription and
translation
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This process allows the cell to determine the correct sequence of amino acids in the protein to be
synthesized
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Reymon T
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Living things constantly exchange material and energy with its surrounding and other organisms
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Autotrophic organisms
(organisms capable of making their own food), specifically photoautotrophs, converts light energy
into chemical energy through the process of photosynthesis
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The energy that
organisms gain through photosynthesis or by feeding on other organisms is used to fuel biological
processes such as reproduction, movement, growth and development
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Plants take in

physiological and physical processes
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Herbivores gain organic matter from the plants
they eat
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When an organism dies, its organic
matter is eventually decomposed and returns to

organic matter in the carcass will be broken
down and used for growth and development
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the environment
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Energy enters the biosphere in the form of light and exits the biosphere as heat
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Theme 4: Biological systems interact
Biological interactions can be observed at all levels in the biological hierarchy
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Motor neurons give the commands to the muscles which contract
and pull on bones to execute the motion
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If calcium concentration is too low, the body releases parathyroid
hormones to stimulate the bones to release calcium
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Biological interactions
in the organismal and molecular levels involve chemical messengers and feedback systems
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Plants release oxygen that animals
need and also serve as habitat for may small animals
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Reymon T
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The following are the key tenets of evolution
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All populations change over time
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Differences in characteristics mean differences in reproductive success of the
members of a species
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For example, if a
certain population of beetles that live on the forest floor vary in color from light brown, dark
brown and black and the beetles’ main predator is a bird that hunts using sight, light brown
members are more likely to be eaten than dark colored members
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Over time, the characteristic of
having light brown color will be lost
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Female birds of paradise prefer colorful
plumage in their mates
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Over time
generations of

male birds of

paradise

inherited this characteristic from their parent
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All organisms descended from a common ancestor
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If we go further back in time, we will find that dogs, along with other mammals have the same
ancestor
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3
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Different environments favor the evolution of different adaptations
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The conditions in the environment determines which set of
characteristics becomes more predominant in a species and which will be lost over time
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Dela Cruz



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