Big Ideas in Life
Science
Ms. Moye
Big Ideas
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Biologists investigate an
incredible range of questions.
But underlying all of their work
are certain big ideas or
concepts.
These big ideas connect the
study of living things.
The big Ideas include the
following:
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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
Diverse but Similar
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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
Similarities
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They grow or become larger.
Development is the process of
change that causes an organism
to become more complex during
its lifetime
All living things reproduce to
produce more of their own kind.
Evolution
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The characteristics (way that
someone or something looks
and is identified by) of any group
of organisms change.
It is different from growth and
development since it occurs
over many generations
Complementary Structure and
Function
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Structure is the way an
organism is put together as a
whole
Functions enable an organism
to survive
The structure and function of
organisms are complementary
or work together to meet its
needs
Physical Principals
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Life follows the same rules or
principals as the rest of the
natural world
Systems are the same for all
organisms. Heredity, chemical
processes (photosynthesis, and
digestion of food)
Notes
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Life Science is
also known as?
What is Life
Science?
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Biology
The study of
living things.
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List the four
branches of life
science and
explain each.
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Molecular Biology is
the study of chemical
building blocks of
cells; Genetics is the
study of how
information about
organisms is passed
from parent to
offspring, Physiology
is the study of
structure and functions
of organisms, and
ecology is the study of
how organisms
interact with their
surroundings.
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How is
development
different from
growth?
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Development
causes an
organism to
become more
complex with age
or a lifetime.
Growth is the
process by which
an organism
becomes larger.
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What are four
big ideas in Life
Science?
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Four big ideas are that
organisms are diverse,
yet share similar
characteristics, group
of organisms change
over time, the
structure and function
of organisms are
complementary,
organisms operate in
the same physical
principal as the rest of
the world.

What are some
ways that a cat
and a tree are
similar, and
different?
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Both are made of cells
and have similar
chemical
compositions,
reproduce, grow,
develop, and need
energy. They differ in
that a car is an animal
with fur that can move
from place to place. It
gets its energy from
eating food; a tree
makes its own food
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What are
functions?
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What does the
statement; living
things are
diverse but
similar mean?
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Processes that
allow an
organism to
survive.
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The statement “Living
things are diverse, but
similar” means that
although there is a
great variety of living
things, they share
many basic
characteristics, such
as being composed of
cells, and being made
up of mostly water.
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Explain the
principle that
structure and
function are
complementary
in living things.
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Structure is the term
that describes how
living things are put
together. Function is
the term that refers to
all the processes that
keep a living thing
alive. In living things,
the structures and
functions are
complementary, which
means they work
together to meet the
needs of organisms.