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EO - Organization of Life Lesson

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Organization of Life

Let's Get Organized

Biological organization is the hierarchy of the complexity of biological structures and systems that extends from atoms to the biosphere. Each level represents an increase in the complexity of life and new properties emerge.

The levels are divided into five levels. Click on each level to learn more. 

Let's look at that again. Notice how we start with the atom and end with a biosphere. There is so much in the middle! This is important - take time to read over it one more time.

Acellular Level : Before the cell

  • Atoms: It is the smallest component of an element that still has the properties of that element. Atoms are made of three particles: protons, neutrons, and electrons.
    • Example: Oxygen
  • Molecules: A group of atoms bonded together, representing the smallest fundamental unit of a chemical compound that can take part in a chemical reaction.
    • Example: Water
  • Macromolecule: A molecule containing a vast number of atoms, and are essential for life.
    • Example: Carbohydrates, Nucleic Acids

Sub Cellular Level: Makes up Cell)

  • Organelles: Any of a number of organized or specialized structures within a living cell that regulate biochemical reactions and interactions.
    • Example: Mitochondria

Cellular Level

  • Cell: Basic unit of life.
    • Example: Bacteria, Cardiac Cell

Super Cellular Level : Multicellular)

  • Tissue: A group of cells working together.
    • Example: Cardiac Tissue
  • Organ: Group of tissues working together.
    • Example: Heart
  • Organ System: Group of organs working together to accomplish a goal.
    • Example: Cardiac System

Ecological Levels

  • Organism: The primary living system, a functional grouping of the lower-level components, including at least one cell.
    • Example: Elephants
  • Population: Group of organisms of the same species that can interbreed.
    • Example: A herd of elephants in Africa
  • Community: Interactions of living organisms within a specific area.
    • Example: Elephant, gazelle, and bird interactions in Africa
  • Ecosystem: All living (biotic) and nonliving (abiotic) components in a specific environment or space.
    • Example: All components of the grasslands of Africa - Elephant, gazelle, bird interactions AND water, grass, weather, etc
  • Biome a large naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat, with a specific climate and geographical patterns.
    • Example: Grasslands, e.g., forest or tundra
  • Biosphere or Ecosphere: All life on Earth or all life plus the physical (abiotic) environment
    • Example: Earth
 Atom - Oxygen Molecule - Dioxide Macromolecule - Phospholipid Cell - Clara Cell Tissue - Epithelial tissue Organ - Lung Organ System - Respiratory System Organism - Panthera Leo (Lion) Population - Pride of Lions Community - Lions and Zebras Ecosystem - Lions, Zebras, and the environment Biosphere - Life on Earth

The world is full of things that have been interacting with each other all the time, every day, since life on this planet began, and these interactions depend mostly on just two things.

Watch the video below to find out more.

The Ozone affects all levels of life Ecology is the study of the interaction of organisms and their environment and is one of the cornerstones of environmental science. The ecological levels of life, organisms, population, community, ecosystem, biomes, and biosphere are typically what is being studied in environmental science, but it is important to realize that the other levels of life are affected as well. Ozone depletion causes more UV rays in the atmosphere and causes issues at all levels of life- It can affect all the way from the biosphere to the acellular level. Ozone depletion can cause an increase in temperatures which can affect weather, amount of water available, and growth of plant life. At the acellular level, ozone depletion has been linked to changes in DNA and skin cancer. 

Organization of Life Challenge

Before You Go, You Need to Know

The following key points are from this explore section of the lesson. You must know the following information before moving to the next lesson. This is just a summary of the key points.

Understand how the individual levels of life are independent from one another, but changes to one level can have profound affect on others.

Need to know that the Ecological levels include

    • Biosphere: Part of Earth where life exists.
    • Ecosystem: Community of organisms and its abiotic environment.
    • Community: All of the populations of species that live and interact in an area.
    • Population: same species that live together in the same area
    • Individual Organism: species.

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