This document is the outline for a biology class discussing the unifying themes of biology. It lists the main themes and their corresponding properties of life. The themes discussed are reproduction, response to the environment, energy processing, order, the cell, growth and development, regulation, and evolutionary adaptation. Each theme is accompanied by a brief description of how it relates to a fundamental property of living organisms.

1. University of Puerto Rico
Cayey
Biology 3001
Professor Eneida Díaz
Delaine M. Zayas-Bazán Burgos 805-12-9185 June 11th, 2012
Unifying themes of Biology
Theme Property of life
Reproduction
Organisms interact with each other in their own species to reproduce
and by this perpetuate the specie.
Organisms interact with each other
Organisms and the physical environment Response to the environment
Organisms interact with other organisms
that are present in their environment to find food and
shelter among many others.

2. Theme Property of life
Energy Processing
Life requires energy transfer and transformation Organisms need energy to live. Chemical energy is
transferred between all organisms in order for them to realize
the corresponding functions that would keep them alive.
Order
Structure and function are correlated at all levels of biological Life is characterized by a highly organized structure. This structure
organization is responsible of the proper functioning of organisms, and their
systems from cells to organs.
Order
Cells are the basic unit of the highly organized structure that is found
The cell is an organism’s basic unit of structure and function in all living beings. Every organism, system, organ system, organ and
tissue is composed by cells and carries out their work based on the
functioning of cells.
Growth and development
The continuity of life is based on heritable information in the form Organisms grow and develop according to the genetic
of DNA information, in form of DNA, they inherit from their progenitors.
Growth and development
The DNA transmitted from parents to offspring determines
New properties emerge at each level in the biological hierarchy from their physical appearance to their illness or health conditions.
The DNA sequences carry all of the information in their genes;
analyzing these sequences could reveal in detail the growth and
development of diverse organisms.

3. Theme Property of life
Regulation
Feedback mechanisms regulate biological systems Regulation controls diverse aspects like the temperature of the
organism and the expulsion of waste. Feedback is responsible of
the regulation, as well as of diverse biological systems and their
processes.
Evolutionary adaption
Evolution accounts for the unity and diversity of life Evolution permits the adaption of organisms to their
environment. These adaptations, in some cases, led to the
emergence of new species creating the phenomenon of
diversity of the species among the same family unit.