Earth and Life Science 11/12
QUARTER II – LEARNER’S PACKET NO. 2
I. INTRODUCTORY CONCEPT
Earth is the home of human beings and organisms, including animals, plants and microorganisms. They
are found in the different parts of the said 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 nonliving components (abiotic factors) like the rock, soil, water and sunlight. Nonliving 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/Biology. It involves different disciplines. These disciplines are connected to one another, through
which the biologist termed as unifying themes. This SMILE learner’s packet 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/function, interaction with the environment, regulation,
unity and diversity, evolution, scientific inquiry, and the science, technology and society. More so, this learning
packet explores how organisms interact with one another and to its environment.
II. LEARNING COMPETENCIES
Describe how unifying themes (e.g., structure and function, evolution, and ecosystems) in the study
of life show the connections among living things and how they interact with each other and with their
environment (S11/12LT-IIa-3)
III. ACTIVITIES
Activity 1: Name It
Directions: Name the unifying theme illustrated below. Choose your answer from words inside the box.
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Activity 2: Match It
Directions: Match the given statements to its corresponding unifying themes.
Activity 3: What a Beautiful Life!
Directions: Given the characteristics of life in the first column, answer the related questions posted in the
second column.
ANALYSIS:
1. How do organismis interact with one another and its environment?
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ABSTRACTION:
The unifying theme connects the different subdisciplines that make biology as a science. In addition
to, the living organisms differ from nonliving 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 nonliving 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.
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.
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.
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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 nonliving 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 decisions.
13. One must value life by taking good care of all beings, humans, plants and animals.
APPLICATION:
Discuss: “Covid-19 is one of the current problems that the world is experiencing. It is an infectious
disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome which affects different people in different ways. How
do you think Biology can be used to solve this problem? (Include also on your discussion on how life may
be valued.)
V. REFLECTION
I learned that ________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
I wish to ask my teacher about_________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
V. REFERENCES
Novales,V.A, Bautista R.G. Alternative Delivery Mode – Earth and Life Science, Grade 11/12, Quarter
2 – Module 22: Unifying Themes in the Study of Life, [Link] Edition, 2020.
Prepared by:
CLAIREDIM B. CABIGAS
Teacher II
Reviewed by:
JANICE A. MARTIN
Assistant Principal II
Approved:
JESUS P. DELA PEÑA
Principal IV
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