Download Levels of Biological Organization: Handout LevelsOfOrganization

Levels of Biological Organization: A Review
Name: ____________________________________________ Date: _______________ Period: _______
Introduction and Activity Qs:
As you reviewed in the previous activity, all living things are made up of one or more cells. But what are cells
made of? What level of organization are they on? How do the levels of organization relate to each other and to
the organism as a whole? One of our focuses this year is to look at life as a series of interrelated systems.
Evidence Collection:
1. Take notes as you go on the chart below
(start with powerpoint).
2. Brainstorm with your table partner. List as many human body systems that you can come up with:
3. Assign roles: Record YOUR role here
4. Go to lab station. See data table on next page to determine your organ system (by lab group number).
Record body system here
5. Use laptops to research about the cells, tissues, and organs involved in your organ system. As you
answer the questions, record your data on the pyramid above.
A) What is the overall function or functions of your system?
B) Cellular level: What are the specialized cell types for your system?
C) Tissue level: What main tissue types are in your system?
D) Organ level: List the organs that make up your system.
E) Organ System: List the functions of your organ system here.
F) Organism: Human
6. Sharing Evidence with Colleagues: Design a virtual “poster” (i.e. powerpoint, prezi, etc.) that will
show your Organ System's levels of organization in enough detail (use pictures/visual info) that any
other group could use it as a general reference. Tomorrow, we will present our information and take
notes on all the systems.
A poster that meets standard will:
1. Describe the overall function of your system- what is it doing for the body?
2. Have all 7 levels represented for your system.
3. Have visual representation of all your levels, particularly how the organs fit in the organism.
Pre Presentation Analysis:
1. Do all living things exhibit all 7 levels of organization? Justify your answer.
2. Do you think you could function as an organism if any one of these levels were absent in your system?
3. Predict the effect if one of the organs (choose one) were removed from your system.
Data Table: Take notes on the other presentations:
System
Components
Thymus, lymph nodes, spleen, lymphatic
Lymphatic/
vessels
Immune
Kidneys, Ureters, Urinary bladder, Urethra
Regulation of body’s internal environment,
and production and excretion of urine
Penis, Testes
Formation of sperms and semen, and
fertilizing the female
Formation of eggs and bearing the fetus
during development
Renal/Urinary
Reproductive
Uterus, Ovaries, Vulva, Labia, Clitoris
1.
Cardiovascular/
Circulatory
2. Digestive/
Excretory
3. Endocrine
4.
Integumentary
5. Respiratory
6. Muscular/
Skeletal
7. Nervous
Role
Defends against infection and disease;
returns tissue fluid to bloodstream
Post Presentation Analysis: Discuss with your partner/group the following questions and record answers below.
1. What did the different systems have in common?
2. How were they different? Compare 2.
3. Does your assigned system interact with any other systems? How? Give an example.
4. Do you think a human can survive without any one system? Why or why not? Justify your response.
5. On page 147 in the BSCS book, the first paragraph reads:
Balance. Under normal conditions, it is an intricate, dynamic state that your body takes care of with little conscious effort.
Think of a skater speeding across the ice: not only does he balance on the edge of his blades, but his body also maintains a
balance in other, less obvious ways. Although ice and frigid air surround him, his body temperature remains within a
relatively narrow range. As he exerts energy to skate faster or to hold his position in a curve, his heart and breathing rates
also adjust to keep oxygen levels within a specific range. In addition to temperature and oxygen levels, his body balances
numerous intricate conditions to keep them all within healthy limits. His body is maintaining homeostasis.
In your own words, define homeostasis.
6. Give an example of how two systems work together to help maintain the balance in the body.