This document provides a summary of the eight unifying themes of biology according to a biology class at Universidad de Puerto Rico-Cayey. It lists each theme and provides a brief example of how that theme applies to living organisms. The themes discussed are: 1) New properties emerge at each level of the biology hierarchy. 2) Organisms interact with their environment and each other. 3) Life requires energy transfer and transformation. 4) Structure and function are correlated at all levels of biological organization. 5) The cell is the basic unit of structure and function of organisms. 6) Continuity of life is based on heritable information in DNA. 7) Feedback mechanisms regulate biological systems. 8)

1. Universidad de Puerto Rico-Cayey
Departamento de Biología
Biol 3031
Dra. Eneida Díaz
Unifying themes of Biology
Nombre Juan E. Maldonado Weng Fecha June 9th, 2012
Unifying themes of Biology How the Characteristics of Life applies to Living Organisms
1 New Properties Emerge at Each Level in the Reproduction: As organisms reproduce, the offspring forms part of
Biology Hierarchy a level in the Hierarchy of Biology and as every new generation
forms, there will always be new properties or characteristics that
emerge.
2 Organisms Interact with Other Organisms and the Response to the environment: Every living organism has a way to
Physical Environment respond to other living organism and the environment that
surrounds it. Like a tree responds to the sun’s rays with
photosynthesis, a human would change the choice of clothing
depending on the weather and the temperature.
3 Life requires Energy Transfer and Transformation Energy processing: The intake of an energy source is vital for many
living organisms. Many consumers receive energy from plants
that, in turn, receive energy from sunlight.
4 Structure and Function are Correlated at All Levels Order: Every organism needs or utilizes the many functions that

2. of Biological Organization are structured within them. Many birds need their wings to travel
long distances in the winter to find warmer locations.
5 The Cell is an Organism’s Basic Unit of Structure Order: Organisms are composed of billions of cells that work
and Function together to maintain the life of the being. The most useful
component of any living organism is the cell because it keeps it all
together.
6 The continuity of Life is based on Heritable Growth and development: The development of most organisms
Information in the form of DNA depends on the genetic information passed from the parents. The
parents pass genes that will eventually determine the offspring’s
characteristics.
7 Feedback Mechanisms Regulate Biological Regulation: Organisms have functions that depend on feedback. A
Systems type of feedback is the positive feedback when receiving cut-
wounds, platelets in the blood would collect at the site to give of
chemicals that would attract more platelets and eventually fix the
wound by clotting up.
8 Evolution accounts for the unity and diversity of Evolutionary Adaptation: Through the theory of evolution, all living
Life organisms have descended from common ancestors, but because
of environmental changes, many needed to adapt, causing
emerging changes. With these changes, creatures have derived
into different and diverse organisms.