Biology: Unifying Themes and Concepts

Unity and Diversity of Life

• The main theme that explains the unity and diversity of life is evolution, which suggests that all living organisms share a common ancestry and have evolved over time through natural selection and genetic variation.

Structure of Organisms

• The fundamental unit that all organisms are made up of is the cell, which is the basic structural and functional unit of life.

Biological Processes

• The process that allows organisms to move, grow, and reproduce is metabolism, which involves the conversion of energy and nutrients into the components that make up living organisms.

Levels of Organization

• Biologists study life at multiple levels of organization, including molecular, cellular, tissue, organ, organ system, and organismal levels.

Scientific Approach

• The main approach used by biologists to make observations and form conclusions is the scientific method, which involves making observations, asking questions, forming hypotheses, and testing these hypotheses through experimentation and data analysis.