Diversity and unity Interdependence Evolution Bioethics

 Diversity is the variety of life  over 1.5 million different species identified on earth  categorize organisms based on their similarities  All life is characterized by unity, or features, that all living things have in common

 Genetic code –DNA or RNA  Physical features  The presence of organelles that carry out the basic functions of cells

 representation of the ancestry between organisms  Shared genetic lineages, but no two are exactly the same  Place organisms with similar genes closer together on the tree  Farther apart = less similar genes

 There are three main branches (Domains)– Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukaryota  Prokaryotes  Eukaryotes

 Domains can be broken down into 6 kingdoms

 The dependence of organisms on one another for energy to survive  Ecology – branch of biology that studies the interactions of organisms in the environment

Autotroph – Organism that can make its own food. Ex. Moss, plants Heterotroph– Organism that get its nutrients from other sources. Ex. Zebra, Tiger, Human

 Evolution (descent with modification) – process in which the inherited characteristics within populations change over generations; enough changes can result in the formation of new species

 Evolution explains how various organisms originated from the same source (common ancestor)  Evolution is driven by genetics –  Mutations  Natural selection  Adaptation- produced by natural selection; inherited characteristic common within a population which demonstrates improved function

 Often, Science and Society are woven together, and are essentially inseparable. At times, certain ethical issues arise between them  Ethics is the system of moral principals that guide a decision

 Bioethics is the controversial ethics surrounding advancements in biology and medicine

 Human trials of medicinal drugs – is it safe to subject humans to these medicines?  Using rats? Fruit flies? Chimpanzees?  Keeping a person in a vegetative state alive  Organ donations  HeLa (Henrietta Lacks)

 Time Magazine, January 11, 1999  Girl with three biological parents  medicine/meet-girl-dna-three-parents medicine/meet-girl-dna-three-parents