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BIG IDEAS IN LIFE SCIENCE BIG IDEAS IN BIOLOGY The process of evolution drives the diversity and unity of life. Biological systems utilize free energy and molecular building blocks to grow, to reproduce and to maintain dynamic homeostasis. Living systems store, retrieve, transmit and respond to information essential to life processes. Biological systems interact, and these systems and their interactions possess complex properties. Organisms are diverse, yet share similar characteristics. Groups of organisms change over time. The structure and function of organisms are complementary. Organisms operate on the same physical principles as the rest of the natural world. Although living things vary greatly, they have many basic similarities. All organisms are made up of tiny building blocks called cells. Every living thing is mainly made up of water . All organisms contain DNA. All living things require energy. All living things reproduce to produce more of their own kind. The characteristics of any group of organisms change. Change in groups of organisms is different from growth and development since it occurs over many generations. The human body is a complex organization of many systems— digestion, circulation, respiration, and others—all working together for the overall health of the individual. The cell, the basic unit of all life, contains smaller organelles that assist in life processes that are similar in function to the larger organism. All organisms contain a "blueprint" for their growth, development and maintenance, and physical appearance in the DNA that is contained in genes on their chromosomes. Ecosystems are composed of biotic (plants, animals, fungi, microbes) and abiotic (soils, minerals, water, air) components and are complex interconnected systems. Living things change over time as a result of natural mutations that occur in their genomes and the process of natural selection, and evidence for this exists within the fossil record. Cells are the most basic unit of life in living organisms. All cells come from other cells. Homeostasis is an organism's ability to remain stable and stay alive by making changes to maintain equilibrium. All life grows and changes over long periods of time through the processes of evolution and natural selection. The interaction of living and nonliving elements of nature constitutes an ecosystem, and each one of the interactions is important to maintaining the balance of the ecosystem. DNA is a chemical code that makes up the hereditary material that is used to pass traits on from parent to offspring. The scientific theory of cells, also called cell theory, is a fundamental organizing principle of life on Earth. Life can be organized in a functional and structural hierarchy. Life is maintained by various physiological functions essential for growth, reproduction, and homeostasis. The scientific theory of evolution is the organizing principle of life science. The scientific theory of evolution is supported by multiple forms of evidence. Natural selection is a primary mechanism leading to change over time in organisms. Reproduction is characteristic of living things and is essential for the survival of species. Genetic information is passed from generation to generation by DNA; DNA controls the traits of an organism. Changes in the DNA of an organism can cause changes in traits, and manipulation of DNA in organisms has led to genetically modified organisms. Plants and animals, including humans, interact with and depend upon each other and their environment to satisfy their basic needs. Both human activities and natural events can have major impacts on the environment. Energy flows from the sun through producers to consumers. Living organisms acquire the energy they need for life processes through various metabolic pathways (photosynthesis and cellular respiration). Matter and energy are recycled through cycles such as the carbon cycle.