Module 9 - Earth & Life Science
Module 9 - Earth & Life Science
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What I Know.......................................................................................................................1
Lesson 1:
Introduction to Life Science............................................................................................3
What I Need to Know..........................................................................3
What’s New: MyOwn Origin of the Earth............................................3
What Is It: Origin of the Universe and the Earth.................................4
What’s More: Big Bang Theory...........................................................5
What is It: The Common Ancestor of All Life......................................7
What’s More: Answer the Riddle …....................................................10
What’s New: What An Amazing Life...................................................11
What Is It: Definition of Terms............................................................12
What’s More: Case Analysis...............................................................13
What Have I Learned..........................................................................14
What Can I Do....................................................................................15
What This Module is About
We live in a vast universe that we have only begun to explore. So far, we only
know that the only planet that has life is Earth. Furthermore, biochemical, genetic, and
metabolic similarities among the Earth’s species imply that all evolved from a common
ancestor that lived billion years ago. There are many things that confuse the people like
what properties of the ancient Earth allowed life to arise, survive, and diversify? And
could these possibly occur in the other planets.
This module will introduce the evidences of the past which will include the people
who worked on theories and made some discoveries out of their works and studies.
This is aimed at introducing the historical development of the concept of life and the
origin of the first life forms with unifying themes in the study of life. You will be able to
know also the origin of the universe and earth through scientific explanation that
provides evidences.
This chapter will also allow you to value life by taking good care of all beings,
humans, plant, and animals.
You will be guided with symbols (icons) used as you go about in the completion
of this module. Lastly, this module contains varied activities that can help you as a
Senior High School student to be aware not only of the geologic and marine processes
on earth especially in the locality but also a responsible preserver and human being
who is concerned with the environment.
Pretest
3. A theory is
A. An observation on something in the natural world
B. A testable hypothesis or prediction that is potentially falsifiable
C. An experimental procedure of many observations, facts and results
D. A belief shared with many scientists agreeing on the topic
6. The cell structures that break down food to produce energy are the
A. Vacuoles
B. Chloroplasts
C. Ribosomes
D. Mitochondria
7. Animals have the following except
A. Cell wall
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B. Ribosomes
C. Mitochondria
D. Cell membrane
8. Plants have the following except
A. Vacuoles
B. Ribosomes
C. Cell walls
D. Mitochondria
9. Oxygen is carried throughout the body by
A. Red blood cells
B. White blood cells
C. Plasma
D. Guard cells
What’s New
You will be asked to make a simple diagram or sketch on how the universe and the
earth was formed. Write a short explanation of your drawing on a separate piece of
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Neatness-15 points
Creativity- 30 points
Relevance -15 points
Information- 20 points
Concept- 20 points
100 points
What Is It
There were many theories inferred by different scientists on the origin of the
universe. Few of these are the Theory of Special Creation, Theory of Spontaneous
Generation, Theory of Biogenesis, Theory of Biochemical Evolution, Theory of
Panspermia , and Deep Sea hydrothermal vent theory. These theories may have or
may have not scientific basis.
Some believed that organisms were put to Earth by some divine forces while others
say that life did not originate from Earth but from other celestial bodies. Among the
scientists, the most accepted theory is that life came from lifeless matter. According to
the primordial soup theory proposed by Alexander Oparin and John Haldane, that life
started in a primordial soup of organic molecules. Some form of energy from lightning
combined with the chemicals in the atmosphere to make the amino acids (the building
block of proteins.
Studies of the modern universe allow astronomers and physicists to propose and
test ideas about its origin. According to the big bang theory the universe began in a
single instant, about 13 to 15 billion years ago. In that silent expansion, all existing
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matter and energy suddenly appeared and exploded outward from a single point.
Simple elements such as hydrogen and helium formed within minutes. Then over
millions of years, gravity drew the gases together and they condensed to form giant
stars. The explosions of the early stars scattered heavier elements which formed into
galaxies. Five billion years ago, a cloud of dust and rocks (asteroids) orbited the star
which is known as the sun. When the asteroids collided with another asteroids, it
merged into bigger asteroids. The heavier these pre-planetary object became, the more
gravitational pull they exerted, and the more material they gathered. About 4.6 billion
years ago, this gradual build-up of materials had formed Earth and other planets of our
solar system.
What’s More
Materials needed
Balloon/Cellophane
Marker
Needle
Measuring Tape
Instruction
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Point Measurement
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
Averag
e
Follow-up Questions:
2. Does the model prove the Big Bang Theory? Explain you answer.
6. What can you conclude from the experiment you have done?
What Is It
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The Common Ancestor of All Life
All living things are made up of cells. Some are unicellular and some are
multicellular. Unicellular organisms that are mostly known are paramecium, amoeba,
bacteria, and yeast. The multicellular cells include animal cells, plant cells, and the
human body and germ cells. Given what scientists know about relationships among
modern species. Most assume that this common ancestor was prokaryotic, meaning it
did not have a nucleus. There was a scarcity of oxygen during the early Earth so the
ancestral cell must also have been anaerobic meaning capable of living without oxygen.
What are the evidences to prove such statement? Looking for and finding signs
of early cells poses a challenge. Cells are microscopic and cannot be seen through our
naked eye and is difficult to fossilize. Furthermore, few ancient rocks that could hold
early fossils still exist. Tectonic plate movements have destroyed nearly all rocks older
than about 4 million years, most slightly younger rocks have been heated that destroy
traces of biological material. Structures formed by nonbiological mechanisms
sometimes resemble fossils. To avoid mistakes on accepting materials like genuine
fossils, scientists repeatedly analyse purported fossil finds and they often question one
another’s conclusion.
The divergence that separated the two prokaryotic domains, Bacteria and
Archaea, occurred very rarely in the history of life, and no fossils from before this
divergence have been discovered.
It has been studied that the first form of life is believed to have appeared 3.5
billion years ago. Palaeontologists are the scientists
who study fossils found microscopic living cells known
as microfossils in rocks that formed 3.5 billion years
ago after Earth cooled and solidified using
radioisotope dating (which uses radioactive
Example of microfossils of sulphur-metabolizing cells in
3.4-billion-year-old rocks of Western Australia
materials such as the radioactive components of
potassium-argon). The microfossils’ filaments found
in Western Australia resemble chains of modern photosynthetic bacteria and the rocks
in which they occur are thought to be remains of ancient stromatolites which are
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mounded, layered structure that forms in shallow sunlit water when a mat of
photosynthetic bacteria traps minerals and sediment. These stromatolites increases in
size over time as new layers form over the old. These organisms have been so
abundant 1.25 billion years ago and were common worldwide.
Many types of bacteria carry out photosynthesis, but only one group,
cyanobacteria, do so by an oxygen-producing pathway. The microfossils of
cyanobacteria were among the easiest to recognize. The forms of these organisms
were remained the same and left chemical fossils in the form of broken products from
pigments. The first microfossil that showed remains of organisms with differences in
structure and characteristics was seen 1.5 billion years ago on the rocks. They are
bigger compared to bacteria and have internal membranes and thicker wall. These
findings marked the beginning of eukaryotic organisms on Earth. The evolution of
oxygen-producing photosynthesis in cyanobacteria had started on early life. About 2.5
billion years ago, oxygen released by these bacteria had begun to accumulate in Earth’s
air and creating a new, global selection pressure. Other species considered oxygen as
toxic thus evolved gradually in its absence.
How did multicellular organisms evolve?
Multicellular organisms are believed to have evolved from unicellular eukaryotes
and until now it is the concept that we believe. Some single eukaryotic cells, like
unicellular algae, formed multicellular aggregates through association with another cell
producing colonies. From colonial aggregates, the organisms evolved in order to form
multicellular organisms through cell specialization. Organisms like protozoans, sponges,
and fungi came to being. The first fossilized animals which were discovered 580 million
years ago were soft-bodied. The continuous process of cell specialization brought the
emergence of complex and diverse plants and animals, including human beings.
Charles Darwin said that organisms change over time as a result of adaptation to their
environment in order to survive.
Fig. 2. A
diagram of a
Organelle Origin
Nucleus - The DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) of the prokaryotes lies
on unenclosed in the cell’s cytoplasm while the DNA of the
eukaryotes are enclosed with an endomembrane (group
of members and organelles). The nucleus and
endomembrane system evolve when plasma membrane of
an ancestral prokaryote folded inward (See fig.3)
Mitochondria - Mitochondria and chloroplasts resemble bacteria in their
and Chloroplast size and shape, and they replicate independently of the
cell that holds them. Bacteria have their own DNA in the
form of a singular chromosome and have at least two
outer membranes and innermost membrane similar to
bacterial plasma membrane.
- Recognition to their similarities led to endosymbiotic
hypothesis which states that mitochondria and chloroplast
both evolved from bacteria.
- Endosymbiosis – “living inside” and refers to a
relationship on which one organism lives inside another.
Given the mitochondria and chloroplasts evolved from
bacteria, scientists are now studying which modern
bacteria are the closest of these organelles. Based from
their studies, metabolic and genetic similarities between
organelles and specific bacterial groups are considered to
be evidence of shared ancestry.
1) It is a jelly-like fluid structure inside the cell that provides an area of movement for all
dissolved molecules that keep the cell working.
2) A structure found in the nucleus that helps produce ribosomes.
3) It is a thin layer around the cell but not a rigid one. It has openings to allow transportation
and exchange of materials.
4) When a cell needs energy, it brings in nutrients and break it down and supply energy to
the cell.
5) Cell storage.
6) It helps produce food for plants and absorbs light energy from the sun and use it to
convert C02 and H20 into sugar and oxygen.
7) It is the digestive system in an animal cell because it contains enzymes that break down
wastes and other materials.
8) These build proteins in the cell and can be found in several places in the cells which
includes in the cytosol and on the endoplasmic reticulum.
9) They do the DNA synthesis and direct the genetic information of the cell. These are
made of DNA and found in the nucleus and usually in pairs.
10) Brain of the cell.
11) An organelle that serves as the transport system.
12) It is only found in the plant cells that support the plat which is also made of specialized
sugar called cellulose.
13) It gathers molecules and make them more complex. It also stores them or send them
into the cytosol or out of the cell. This organelle also processes the proteins produced by
the endoplasmic reticulum and ribosomes.
14) It does not contain cell wall.
15) An organism made up of one cell.
16) Organism composed of many cells
17) An organism that lacks nucleus
18) An organism with true nucleus.
Question:
Did you hear the one about a chemist who was reading a book about helium?
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 17 12
10 8 14 13 9
15 16 18 11
Answer: _______________________________________________________
What’s New
Activity 4: What an Amazing Life!
Think of the things that a living organism can do. Draw a living organism at the
center of the simple web concept map. Then write the characteristics of life on the
circles on the side (one each box) . You may answer in phrase or word. Example:
Movement, Reproduction
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What is It
Biology is the study of life. Life does not only involve the living things itself
only but also includes its deepest characteristics. There are many characteristics
of life and some of these will be discussed below.
This is an important introduction on how you define a living from a non-living for
you to simply know how important life is.
1. Nutrition
2. Reproduction
3. Excretion
4. Growth
5. Movement
6. Respiration
7. Sensitivity
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released in al living cells. Organisms
break down the food within their cells with
a specific process to carry out the
following processes.
Movement All living things move. Animals move from
one place to another. Plants also move
but not as usually observable than
animals. Plants move in different ways in
order to grow and their movement may be
so slow that people cannot even
recognize. A makahiya leaf being touched
is an example of movement through
thigmotrophism
Excretion All living things also excrete but in
different ways. Excretion is the result of
many chemical reactions happening in
cells which they have to remove the
waste products which might poison the
cells. Excretion is the removal of toxic
minerals in excess from the organism.
What’s More
Activity 5: Case Analysis
With the given concept above, answer the following situations with the characteristics of
life. Write your answer on the second table.
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Guttation in plants gradually happen.
What Have I Learned
Activity 6: Synthesizing your Learning
Answer the following questions based on your learning. Be brief and concise.
1. Base from your opinion, why do we need to study the beginning of the universe? Give
at least five (5) reasons.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
2. From the seven characteristics of life, choose top three which you consider as
important characteristics of life. Explain why to each of the characteristic below.
a.
b.
c.
3. Based from what you learned on the beginning of the universe until how life began,
which among the topics struck you the most that gave you realizations. Explain.
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What Can I Do
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Post-Assessment
3. Evidence that Mars ____ suggests that It may have supported or still supports
life.
A. has an ozone layer
B. has water
C. is about the same size as Earth
D. all of the above
5. Bacteria that cause the disease typhus are close relatives of bacteria evolved
into ______.
A. protists
B. protocells
C. chloroplasts
D. mitochondria
10. It is a theory stating that the beginning of the universe was due to a supreme
being creating the planets, galaxies, asteroids and other heavenly bodies
REFERENCES
Wacey, D., Kilburn, M., Saunders, M., Cliff, J. and Brasier, M., 2011. Microfossils Of Sulphur-
MetabolizingCells In 3.4-Billion-Year-Old RocksOfWesternAustralia.
[online]https://www.nature.com/articles/ngeo1238. Available
at:<https://www.google.com/search?
q=microfossils+3.5+billions+years+ago&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwiM4drpxPbpAhVVA
aYKHSmqDJwQ2-
cCegQIABAA&oq=microfossils+3.5+billions+years+ago&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQAzoCCA
A6BggAEAgQHjoECAAQGDoGCAAQBRAeUOYPWJs7YKo9aAFwAHgAgAHvAogB8
BuSAQgwLjIyLjEuMpgBAKABAaoBC2d3cy13aXotaW1n&sclient=img&ei=onLgXoyIO
dWCmAWp1LLgCQ#imgrc=vWFkYY0v5PSx2M> [Accessed 24 June 2020].
Kerr, S., 2018. Eukaryotes And Their Origins. [online] Biology 1520. Available at:
<http://bio1520.biology.gatech.edu/biodiversity/eukaryotes-and-their-origins/>
[Accessed 24 June 2020].