Unifying Themes and Fundamental Principles of Life

These flashcards cover the characteristics of life, the levels of biological organization, and the unifying themes of biology as discussed in the Grade 11 General Biology 1 lecture.

Biology

The study of life unified by several core themes including hierarchical organization, the correlation between structure and function, and the flow of heritable information through DNA.

The Cell

The basic building block of all living organisms and the fundamental unit where all essential chemical processes occur.

Atoms

The microscopic level of life where matter organizes into functional units.

Molecules

Chemical structures that organize into functional units like proteins and DNA, forming the functional components within the cell.

Organelles

Functional components within the cell formed by molecules.

Tissues

Groups of similar cells in multicellular organisms that form to perform specific functions.

Organs

Structures formed by the combination of different tissues to perform complex roles.

Organ system

A group of organs that work together to perform specific physiological tasks.

Organism

A complex hierarchy of life that represents an individual living system.

Populations

Interacting individuals of the same species in a shared area.

Communities

The level of organization created by multiple populations interacting in an area.

Ecosystems

Communities interacting with their physical environments, including both biotic and abiotic factors.

Biosphere

The sum of all Earth's ecosystems and life-supporting zones, representing the global scale of life.

Metabolism

The set of chemical reactions that processes energy within an organism to sustain life functions.

Homeostasis

The process of maintaining internal balance and keeping conditions stable despite external changes, such as regulating body temperature at approximately $37^\text{o}\text{C}$.

Irritability

A shared characteristic of life where organisms respond to external stimuli.

Evolutionary Adaptation

The overarching theme of biology where populations evolve over generations as favorable traits increase survival and are passed to offspring.

Structure and Function

A theme where the form of a biological structure determines its biological role, such as the flat shape of molars allowing them to grind food efficiently.

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid)

The universal genetic code and blueprint that carries heritable information across all species to guide structure and function.

CRISPR-Cas9

A global advancement in gene-editing technology used to precisely alter DNA sequences to cure genetic disorders and improve crop yields.

Rice Resiliency Projects

Projects by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines that develop rice varieties capable of surviving environmental challenges like submergence and high salinity.