Earth and Life Science

Quarter 2 – Module 2:
Unifying Themes in the Study
of Life
What I Need to Know

This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is here
to help you master the Unifying Themes of Biology. The scope of this
module permits it to be used in many different learning situations. The language
used recognizes the diverse vocabulary level of students. The lessons are arranged
to follow the standard sequence of the course. But the order in which you read them
can be changed to correspond with the textbook you are now using.

The module covers:

• Lesson 1 – Unifying Themes of Study of Life (Biology)

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. name the unifying themes in the study of life;

2. describe the unifying themes illustrated;
3. explain the connection among living things and their interaction with the
environment;
4. give details on how these themes serve as the foundation in the study of
biology.
5. value life by taking good care of all beings, human, plants and animals.

What I Know
Lesson
Unifying Themes in the
1 Study 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. Non-living things are classified
as inanimate objects that may influence, alter or impact the life of biotic factors.
These abiotic factors are essential to biotic factors in various ways.
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.
This module emphasizes these unifying themes that serve as the bases of the study
of Life Science. The ten unifying themes include: emergent properties, the cell, the
heritable information, structure or function, interaction with the environment,
regulation, unity and diversity, evolution, scientific inquiry, and the science,
technology and society. More so, this module explores how organisms interact with
one another and its environment.

What’s In

Biology is the discipline of science that deals with the study of life. This comprises
number of disciplines such as biochemistry and ecology. As a wide-ranging and
complex science, biologists designed the term “unifying themes”, which serve as the
bases for the study of life.

Activity 1: DAD (Decode, Arrange and Describe

Directions. Decode the given numbers to the corresponding twenty-eight letters of
the alphabet, then arrange the letters to reveal the magic word related to Biology.
Lastly, describe the term revealed. Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper.

1. 12 5 3 12
2. 27 17 17 3 5 12 7

3.
5 24 17 23 12 22 17 9 14

1 1 1 18 22 22 9 14 17 4
4.

7 8 20 22 17 25
5.

What’s New
Directions. Cutting Trees that can lead to deforestation and may
encourage landslide Directions: Name the unifying theme illustrated below. Choose
your answer from words inside the box. Write your answer on a separate sheet of
paper.

biological system reproduction and

cell inheritance
regulation
interaction with the environment
adaptation
energy and life form
evolution
and function
biology and society
1. 4.

2. 5.

3.

Activity 3: Match It
Directions: Match the given statements to its corresponding unifying themes. Write
your answer on a separate sheet of paper.
1. Living things work as a system, at the same A. biological system
time they cannot be separated from non-living
things since they are both operating as a system.
2. Cells are the basic unit of life, which denotes that all B. energy and life
living things are composed of cells.
3. Autotrophs use light to perform the process of C. biology and society
photosynthesis, on the other hand, heterotrophs
consume other organisms to obtain food.
4. Living things cannot live alone, their survival D. interaction with the
depends on how they interact with the environment
environment.
5. Organisms’ structures fit with their functions. E. the cellular basis of
life
6. Traits of parents are being passed from one F. form and function
generation to the next generation.
7. Cells of the body are surrounded by a G. reproduction and
small amount of fluid, and normal cell functions inheritance
depend on the maintenance of cell’s fluid
environment including temperature, volume, andH. adaptation
chemical content.
8. Living organisms survive depending on I. regulation /
how one will adapt to its changing environment. homeostasis
9. The diversity of life arises by change J. evolution
leading to the present biodiversity that we see.
10. The field of science is changing the lives of K. scientific inquiry
all organisms through research.

What Is It

The unifying theme connects the different subdisciplines that make

biology as a science. In addition to, the living organisms differ from non-living
organisms in various aspects. What are these shared properties (of living
organisms) that make something “alive”?

All levels of life have systems of related parts.

- A system is an organized group of interacting parts.

- A cell is a system of chemicals and processes. It is the basic unit of life.
- A body system includes organs that interact.
- An ecosystem includes living and non-living things that interact.
Structure and function are related in biology.
- Structure determines function.
- The structure is the shape of the object.
- The function is the object’s specific role.
Organisms must maintain homeostasis to survive in diverse
environments.
- Homeostasis is the maintenance of constant internal conditions.
- All living organisms must live in a stable environment.
Evolution explains the unity and diversity of life.
- Evolution is the change in living things over time. The genetic makeup of
a population of a species changes.
- It accounts for both the diversity and the unity of life.
Traits are being inherited and transferred.
- The continuity of life depends on the inheritance of biological
information in the form of DNA molecules.
- The genetic information is encoded in the nucleotide sequences of the
DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid).
Organisms reproduce.
- It is necessary part of living; process of making more of one’s own kind.
Organisms are interdependent with one another.
- Organisms have evolved to live and interact with other organisms.
- Ecology deals with the interactions of living organisms with one another
and their environment.
Organisms acquire and process energy.
- Living organisms use a source of energy for their metabolic activities.
- Some living organisms capture the light energy and convert it into
chemical energy in food.
- Some living organisms use chemical energy stored in molecules obtained
from food.
In addition to the properties mentioned, the two additional unifying themes
in the study of life include the scientific inquiry and science, technology
and society.
Scientific Inquiry
- The process of science includes observation-based discovery and the
testing of explanations through the hypothetic-deductive.
- Scientific credibility depends on the repeatability of observation and
experiments.
Science, Technology and Society
- Many technologies are goal-oriented applications of science.
- The relationships of science and technology to society are now more
crucial to understand than ever before.

Activity 4: What a Beautiful Life!

Directions: Read and analyze the following questions. Write your answer on
separate sheet of paper. You’ll be graded based on the given rubric at the latter part
of the module.

Characteristics of Life Questions

What is the level of organization
Displays organization of living organisms?

Ability to reproduce Why do organisms reproduce?

Ability to adapt on changing Why do organisms adapt?

environment

In what way do living organisms

Requires energy acquire energy?
Why is energy significant?

In what way do homeostasis

Maintains homeostasis maintains?
What’s More

Activity 5: Connect Me
Directions: Read and analyze what is asked. Write your answer on a separate sheet
of paper.

Show the connections of the given biotic and abiotic factors written inside the box
through a concept map.
Soil sunlight water Carbon dioxide

Oxygen Corn plant Man Chicken

Activity 6: What’s the connection?

Directions: Read and analyze the given question. Write your answer on a separate sheet of
paper. You’ll be graded using the rubrics written on the latter part of the module.

Biology, also referred as Biological Science or Life Science deals with the study of living
organisms. It is divided into subdisciplines. As a broad discipline, biologists use the term
unifying themes where the study is being anchored. The major unifying themes that were
mentioned include the cell theory as a description of living systems, continuity of life as
explained by the molecular basis of inheritance, the interdependence of structure and
function, the diversity of life brought by evolution, unity of living systems as explained by
evolutionary conservations, and emergent properties that arise from the organization of life.
Describe each unifying theme illustrated below. Give details on how these themes serve as
the foundation in the study of biology.

1.

Growth anddevelopment Continuity of life

Organization of life Acquire and energy process

Directions: Using the illustration below, explain briefly the interconnections of
living things and their environment. State how human being may value life. Write
your answer on the answer sheet.

What I Have Learned

Understanding how life came about is a deep scientific undertaking. Organisms’

function, structures, growth and origin are indeed one of many diverse topics that
should be explored to grasp the complexities of life. Generally, the following
statements provide key concepts on the unifying themes in the study of life.
1. Biology is about the study of life.
2. The unifying themes connect the different subdisciplines that make up
biology as a science.
3. The unifying themes of biology comprise the cell theory as a description of
living systems, continuity of life, interdependence of function and
structure, evolution, unity of living systems and the properties that arise
from the organization of life.
4. The living organisms are composed of cells as what was discussed in the
cell theory. The cell theory is the foundation of our understanding of
reproduction and growth of organisms.
5. The continuity of life is best explained by the molecular basis of inheritance.
Heredity, which is the continuity of life from one generation to the next, is
dependent on correct copying of cell’s DNA into daughter cells.
6. The function and structure are interdependent.
7. The evolutionary change give rise to the diversity of life.
8. Living organisms (biotic factors) are dependent on its environment which
consists of non-living organisms (abiotic factors). Living organisms also
interact with other living organisms.
9. Biotic factors (living things) are defined by set of characteristics including
the ability to reproduce, grow, move and ability to adapt to its environment.
They need food, water and other abiotic factors for their growth and
development.
10. Abiotic factors are inanimate objects which include rocks, water, weather
and other living things present in the environment.
11. Biological systems are organized.
12. The study of Biology is important. It enables us to make appropriate
decisions in life. Failure to grasp biological concepts lead into an
inappropriate decision.
13. One must value life by taking good care of all beings, humans, plants and
animals.

Assessment

Directions. Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a
separate sheet of paper.

1. Genes are passed from one generation to the next generation through
______________.
A. evolution
B. regulation
C. form and function
D. reproduction and inheritance
2. Which among the given examples describes the unifying form and
structure?
A. cellular basis of life
B. light as source of energy
C. bats have wings specialized for flying
D. living things arise from pre-existing cells
3. Makahiya plant closes its leaflets when touched. This is an example of
______________
A. energy and life
B. response to stimuli
C. form and structure
D. reproduction and inheritance
4. Describe the illustration.
A. They are evolving
B. The organisms are growing and
developing.
C. It shows how organisms respond to
its environment.
D. There is a transfer of energy among
living organisms.

5. Which statement does not describe the image on the right side?
A. Plants acquire energy for them to
perform their task, the food making.
B. There is a transfer of energy from the
sun to the plants.
C. Plants need abiotic factors in order
to grow.
D. They are evolving.

6. Which is TRUE among the given statements

that tell something about the illustration? A.
Cell is present in fossils.
B. Early organisms lack cell.
C. Cell is the basic unit of life.
D. Cell is present among eukaryotic only.

7. Living organisms cannot live alone, they are interacting with the abiotic
factors for sustainability of life. Which among the organisms is considered
as abiotic?
A. bacteria
B. plant
C. light
D. man
8. Chameleons shift colors wherever they go. They are able to turn any
colors or combine colors depending on where the environment is. What
trait is being described?
A. adaptation
B. interaction
C. inheritance
D. reproduction
9. The diversity of life arises by change leading to the present biodiversity
that we see. This is what we called ______________.
A. evolution
B. adaptation
C. inheritance
D. reproduction
10. The field of science is changing the lives of all organisms through
technology and research. This is explained by ______________. A. biology
and society
B. adaptation
C. energy and life
D. inheritance
11. All organisms alive today have descended from simple cellular creatures
billions of years ago. Biologists were able to identify and preserved some
of the characteristics of that earliest organisms. This is associated in what
theme?
A. Function and structure are interdependent.
B. Cell theory as a description of living systems.
C. Emergent properties arise from the organization of life.
D. Unity of living systems is explained by evolutionary conservation.

12. Research plays significant role for the improvement of lives in a given
society. With these, more scientists agree that all scientific knowledge
comes from ______________.
A. observation
B. experimentation
C. both experimentation and observation D. textbooks
13. The orchard sprayed with the chemical yields an average of 60 kilos of
mango per tree, the other orchard yields an average of 40 kilos of mangoes
per tree. Based on the data, in order to have a better yield, trees must
______________.
I. receive the same amount of sunlight
II. receive the same amount of water
III. increase the orchard spray
A. I only
B. II only
C. I, II and III
D. I and II
14. Many threatened or endangered species can be saved by a large ________.
A. coal mine
B. food chain
C. wildlife hunting
D. reforestation project
15. Living organisms can be protected if we fight against deforestation. Which
among the statements doesn’t support this advocation?
A. Plant more trees.
B. Reduce the use of products made from wood fiber.
C. Demand forest products from sustainable sources
and deforestation fee supply chains.
D. Support the products of companies practicing deforestation.