Download Levels of Organization for Organisms

Levels of Organization for Organisms
Levels of Organization
All living things have a structure that is based on specific organization of materials. While
science discovers
new levels all of the time, the life sciences tend to draw some distinctive lines of demarkation.
In Anatomy, you are responsible for knowing the levels of organization from the atom to the
organism.
Level of
organization
Explanation
Example
atom is the smallest particle that maintains
its physical and chemical properties; note
that particles smaller than the atom have
been discovered, but they do not maintain
these properties
oxygen,
nitrogen, gold
when two or more atoms are bonded
together
water, carbon
dioxide
macromolecule
when two or more molecules are bonded
together to form large (gigantic!) molecules
proteins,
lipids,
carbohydrates
organelles
several macromolecules bonded together
form these building blocks of a cell
mitochondria,
nucleus, golgi
apparatus
atom
molecule
Below this level begins what scientists consider living
or alive
http://www.coldwater.k12.mi.us/nicholsk/courses/chs/Ana/levelorg.htm (1 of 3) [3/11/2009 9:21:19 AM]
Levels of Organization for Organisms
the smallest unit of life, a cell is a
bacteria,
collection of organelles functioning together animal, plant
cells
tissues
a collections of cells working together to
perform a specific job
epithelial,
connective
two or more types of tissues that work
together to complete a specific task
heart,
stomach, brain
several organs working in unison to
achieve a common goal
digestive,
cardiovascular,
respiratory
several organ systems functioning together
human, dog,
tree
population
groups of individual organisms of the same
species working together to achieve a
common goal
bees, ants
community
populations of different species of
organisms
all of the
human species
organs
organ systems
(systems)
organism
ecosystem
groups of different populations living in the wetlands, oak
same environment
forest
http://www.coldwater.k12.mi.us/nicholsk/courses/chs/Ana/levelorg.htm (2 of 3) [3/11/2009 9:21:19 AM]
Levels of Organization for Organisms
a collection of ecosystems with similar
climates
desert,
trundra,
rainforest
all of the biomes on the planet earth
the earth's
living
occupants
biome
biosphere
http://www.coldwater.k12.mi.us/nicholsk/courses/chs/Ana/levelorg.htm (3 of 3) [3/11/2009 9:21:19 AM]