1. Levels of Biological Organization UNIT THREE, LESSON 3.2 BY
MARGIELENE D. JUDAN
2. LESSON OUTLINE Levels of Biological Organization
Characteristics of Life
3. Life is complex, yet it is organized.
4. It is organized like a complete address: (ex. Baesa
Adventist Academy, Baesa Road, Caloocan City, Metro Manila,
Philippines, Asia, World, Solar System, Milky Way, Local Group
Clusters, Local Group Superclusters, Universe)
5. Atom Molecule Organelle Cell Tissue Organ Organ System
Organism Population Community Ecosystem Biosphere (usually lifeless
but essential to formation of life) (mostly living)
6. 1. Atom Definition Examples The smallest unit of matter
Oxygen (O2), Helium (He) Atom > Molecule > Organelle >
Cell > Tissue > Organ >Organ System > Organism >
Population > Community > Ecosystem >Biosphere
7. 2. Molecule Definition Examples Group of atoms chemically
bonded together DNA, chlorophyll, water, salt Atom > Molecule
> Organelle > Cell > Tissue > Organ >Organ System
> Organism > Population > Community > Ecosystem
>Biosphere
8. 3. Organelle Definition Examples Specialized part w/in a
cell Chloroplast, nucleus, vacuole, mitochondria Atom > Molecule
> Organelle > Cell > Tissue > Organ >Organ System
> Organism > Population > Community > Ecosystem
>Biosphere
9. 4. Cell Definition Examples The basic unit of life Nerve
cell, muscle cell, plant cell, red blood cell Atom > Molecule
> Organelle > Cell > Tissue > Organ >Organ System
> Organism > Population > Community > Ecosystem
>Biosphere
10. 5. Tissue Definition Examples Group of specialized cells
that perform a specific function Muscle tissue, skin tissue Atom
> Molecule > Organelle > Cell > Tissue > Organ
>Organ System > Organism > Population > Community >
Ecosystem >Biosphere
11. 6. Organ Definition Examples Group of tissues joined as a
unit to perform a function Heart, brain, liver, skin, kidney Atom
> Molecule > Organelle > Cell > Tissue > Organ
>Organ System > Organism > Population > Community >
Ecosystem >Biosphere
12. 7. Organ System Definition Examples Group of organs joined
as a unit to perform a function Nervous system, circulatory system
Atom > Molecule > Organelle > Cell > Tissue > Organ
> Organ System > Organism > Population > Community >
Ecosystem >Biosphere
13. 8. Organism Definition Examples A distinct living thing;
classified into unicellular or multicellular Human, snake, mushroom
Atom > Molecule > Organelle > Cell > Tissue > Organ
> Organ System > Organism > Population > Community >
Ecosystem >Biosphere
14. 9. Population Definition Examples A group of organisms of
the same species, living in the same area Coyotes in Yosemite Nat.
Park, dogs in Baesa Atom > Molecule > Organelle > Cell
> Tissue > Organ > Organ System > Organism >
Population > Community > Ecosystem >Biosphere
15. 10. Community Definition Examples The interacting, living
populations, that live in the same area All the populations
(plants, animals, fungi, bacteria) in Yosemite Atom > Molecule
> Organelle > Cell > Tissue > Organ > Organ System
> Organism > Population > Community > Ecosystem
>Biosphere
16. 11. Ecosystem Definition Examples A community of living
organisms, and their non- living parts of the environment (energy,
soil, etc.) The Yosemite community plus its energy, soil, etc. Atom
> Molecule > Organelle > Cell > Tissue > Organ >
Organ System > Organism > Population > Community >
Ecosystem >Biosphere
17. 12. Biosphere or ecosphere Definition Examples The zone of
life on planet Earth. The sum of all ecosystems on Earth. The
earths biosphere (its the only biosphere yet discovered) Atom >
Molecule > Organelle > Cell > Tissue > Organ > Organ
System > Organism > Population > Community > Ecosystem
> Biosphere
18. How do we differentiate a living thing from a non- living
thing?
19. CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE 1. Chemical or Molecular Makeup 2.
Cellular Makeup 3. Growth 4. Reproduction 5. Metabolism 6.
Excretion 7. Definite Form, Size, and Lifespan 8. Sensitivity to
Stimuli 9. Adaptation 10.Movement
20. 1. Chemical or Molecular Makeup All organisms are composed
of both organic (ex. DNA) and inorganic (ex. water, acids, bases,
salts) molecules
21. 2. Cellular Makeup All organisms are composed of cells. Two
kinds of cells: 1. Unicellular or prokaryotic (w/ one cell; ex.
bacteria) 2. Multicellular or eukaryotic (w/ many cells; ex.
human)
22. 3. Growth All organisms grow and increase in size and
volume due to nutrients gained from food. Intussusception is the
growth of cells (for living things; ex. cells dividing) Accretion
is growth without nutrient intake (for non-living things; ex.
growing rock)
23. 4. Reproduction Organisms make offspring off their own
kind. Reproduction is essential to pass DNA to the offspring.
Sexual reproduction involves union of sex cells Asexual
reproduction does not require union of sex cells. It is seen in
lower forms of life (ex. Sponge, bacteria)
24. 5. Metabolism Metabolism is the transformation of food to
energy or vice versa. Organisms are classified as: 1. Autotrophs
have the ability to produce own food (ex. plants, photosynthetic
bacteria, algae) 2. Heterotrophs cannot produce own food; depend on
other organisms for food (ex. humans, most animals)
25. 6. Excretion All organisms remove wastes or toxic
substances from the body. (ex. Urination, lungs release CO2)
26. 7. Definite Form, Size, and Lifespan All organisms have
definite size, form, and lifespan. Ants are small, whales are big,
and you cannot expect a human to be as big as n elephant. Humans
cannot live for 1,000 years like trees.
27. 8. Sensitivity to stimuli All organisms respond to their
environment. Stimuli are factors that trigger a reaction of living
things. Ex. Makahiya plant closing, plants growing with the
direction of sunlight, a person saying ouch upon touching a hot
surface
28. 9. Adaptation All organisms are able to adapt to their
environment. Ex. Body responds to heat by sweating, birds migrate
in winter, bears sleep throughout winter
29. 10. Movement All organisms move. Movement refers to action
done by organisms. Motile organisms can move from one place to
another (ex. jaguar, human) Nonmotile organisms cannot move from
one place to another (ex. plants, fungi)
