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Themes in the Study of Life Organisms are adapted to their environment o Result of evolution fundamental principle of biology o Properties of life: order, regulation, energy processing, evolutionary adaptation, response to the environment, growth and development, reproduction Theme 1 Evolution is the core of biology o Organisms living today are modified descendants of common ancestors Theme 2 New properties emerge at each level in the biological hierarchy o Life can be studied at different levels from molecules to the entire living planet o Each level has emergent properties, building on the levels below o Emergent properties result from interaction of parts within a system o Cells Tissues Organs Organ systems o Organisms Populations Ecosystem Biosphere o Reductionism reducing complex systems to manageable parts to simplify Theme 3 Organisms interacting with environment, exchange matter & energy o Ecosystem operation involves 2 processes: Cycling of nutrients One way flow of energy from sunlightproducersconsumers o Activities of life require work, which requires energy Energy may be transformed from one form to another Some energy is lost to the environment as heat Theme 4 Structure and function are correlated at all biological levels o Form fits function Theme 5 Cells are an organisms basic unit o Organism activities are based on cell activities o Every cell uses DNA as its genetic info o 2 cell types: Prokaryotic cells simpler and smaller than eukaryotic cells, DNA is not separated from the cytoplasm in a nucleus, no membrane-enclosed organelles in cytoplasm Eukaryotic cells organelles are enclosed in membranes, largest organelle is usually nucleus Theme 6 Continuity of life is based on heritable information in the form of DNA o All cells contain DNA, which is made up of genes (units of inheritance) o DNARNAprotein o Genome=organisms set of genetic instructions o Each DNA molecule is made of 2 long chains. Each link is one of 4 nucleotides (A, T, C, G) o Nucleotide sequence may code for a specific protein o DNA indirectly controls protein production through messenger RNA

Theme 7 Feedback mechanisms regulate biological systems o Chemical process are catalyzed by enzymes o Negative feedback accumulation of an end product of a process that slows down that process. Reverses a trend o Positive feedback end product speeds up its own production. Accelerates a trend Living things show both diversity and unity o Biologists divided life into 5 kingdoms: plants, animals, fungi, eukaryotes, and prokaryotes o Life also belongs in 3 domains: bacteria, archaea, eukarya o Domain bacteria and domain archaea consist of prokaryotes o Domain eukarya, which include plants, animals, and fungi, are distinguished partly by their modes of nutrition Plants = photosynthesis Fungi = decomposers/absorbers Animals = ingesting other organisms o Taxonomy branch of biology that names and classifies species into a hierarchal order speciesgenusfamilyorderclassphylumkingdomdomain o Darwin contemporary species arose from ancestors through descent with modification o Darwin also coined natural selection Individuals with inherited traits that are best suited for environment will produce more healthy offspring than less fit individuals Over generations, heritable traits that enhance survival and reproductive success will increase in frequency among a pops individuals