What Are The 3 Unifying Ideas In Biological Science?

It is argued by many that in fact, there are five unifying ideas on biological science, or biology. These unifying ideas which are said to be the fundamental principles of biology are: Cells are the basic unit of life, new species and inherited traits are the production of evolution, an organism regulates its internal environment to maintain a stable and constant condition, genes are the basic units of heredity and living organisms consume and transform energy.

• Cells are the basic unit of life.

Also known as the cell theory, it is the argument that the cell is the fundamental unit of life and that all living things are made up from at least one of these cells or are the secreted product of one of these cells. 

• New species and inherited traits are the production of evolution.

This is the theory that all life changes and develops through evolution. It also argues that all life forms have a common origin.

• An organism regulates its internal environment to maintain a stable and constant condition.

Technically referred to as homeostasis, it is the ability of an open system to regulate itself and its internal environment so that it keeps a constant and stable condition.  This is achieved by multiple dynamic equilibrium adjustments.

• Genes are the basic units of heredity.

Within all organisms, genes are the primary units of inheritance. Each gene corresponds to a region of DNA that influences the organism's form and function in specific ways.

• Living organisms consume and transform energy.

The continuous input of energy is what enables a living organism to survive. Chemical reactions extract energy and transform it to form new cells and sustain them.

Together these unifying ideas of biological science help to build up the expanse of knowledge that we have today.