I. Organization of Life

1
Scale of Life
I. Organization of Life A. Biological
Organization 1. Examination of life allows
identification of a hierarchy of Biological
Organization a. whether looking at plants
or animals or other organisms
2
B. Hierarchical Order 1. Atoms a.
smallest particle of an element that retains the
properties of that element
2. Molecules a. a combination of atoms
3
3. Organelles a. structure within a cell
that performs a specific function 4. Cell
a. smallest unit of life
4
5. Tissue a. group of similar cells that
perform a specific function
5
6. Organ a. Structure normally composed of
multiple tissue types to form a functional
unit 7. Organ system a. two or more organs
working together in the execution of a bodily
function
6
8. Multicellular Organism a. individual
living thing composed of many cells
7
9. Population a. Members of one species
inhabiting same area and interbreeding 10.
Species a. very similar, potentially
interbreeding organisms
8
11. Community a. Two or more populations of
different species living and interacting the
same area 12. Ecosystem a. A community and
its non-living surroundings
Grasssland
Marine Reef
9
13. Biosphere a. That part of the Earth
Inhabited by living organisms 14. Universe
a. accounts for all forms of life on Earth and
elsewhere
10
Organ System
Biosphere
Organ
Ecosystem
Tissue
Community
Cell
Population
Species
Organelle
Molecule
Organism
Atom