 PRETTY BALATUCAN

 CHRIS KORBEN M. ABADA

GRADE 7-EUCLID
MRS. ARETES L. SASAN- SCIENCE TEACHER
“LEVELS OF BIOLOGICAL
ORGANIZATION”
PRESENTERS:
PRETTY BALATUCAN & CHRIS KORBEN M. ABADA
LEVELS OF BIOLOGICAL
ORGANIZATION:
• Take a look around you. Life is found almost
everywhere on Earth. The vast diversity of
organisms present is indeed fascinating.
Different species of plants, various types
of animals, and all sorts of organisms
comprise our planet. But did you ever
wonder how each life form is in any way
interconnected?
BIOLOGICAL ORGANIZATION

• Biological organization is the way in

which life is categorized into a
hierarchy. This hierarchy is formed
using a reductionist approach and
encompasses all levels of life.
The earth is assumed to be about 4.5 billion
years old. Various species of organisms have
already emerged and disappeared for that
long. However, it is quite ironic how to
maintain equilibrium (balance), living
organisms are classified in A hierarchical and
orderly manner according to their level of
complexity.
• In each successive level of organization, the
complexity of life increases, and a
distinguishable property can be observed. To
further understand the complexity of life,
listed below are the ten levels of biological
organization in living organisms listed based
on the hierarchy starting with the
fundamental element, cell.
1. Cell

Levels Of Biological Organization

The cell is known to be the basic building
block of life. It performs various metabolic functions like
providing structure and rigidity to the body and converting
food into nutrients and energy. While it is not the smallest
particle (organelles, molecules, and atoms are even smaller),
the cell is called such because it is the smallest living entity
that can function independently. At a cellular level, organisms
can be classified into two: single-celled organisms
(unicellular) and multiple-celled organisms (multi-cellular).
#2. Tissue

When similar cells aggregate, they

form a tissue. A tissue is a group of
interconnected cells that perform the
same function. Like cells, tissues
perform metabolic processes that keep
the organism alive. In multi-cellular
organisms, the study of tissue is called
histology (from Greek
words histos meaning “tissue”
and logos meaning “study of.”
#3. Organ

Coming from the Latin

word organum which means “tool” or
“instrument”, an organ is a collection of
tissues and similar structures that all
function as one. Organs of multi-cellular
organisms are, in fact, very diverse. Plant
organs include flowers (if there are), roots,
stems, and leaves. On the other hand, the
organs of animals include the brain, heart,
stomach, eyes, and many more.
#4. Organ System
• Next to the hierarchy is the organ system. An
organ system associates different organs and other
anatomical structures that perform a certain
physiological process. While each organ system in
an organism works as a distinct entity, they all
cooperate to help keep the organism alive. In
plants, organ systems include the root and shoot
system, while animal organ systems include the
digestive, nervous, circulatory system, and
others.
#5. Organism

An organism can be defined as any

living thing that is composed of
various organ systems that function
altogether. Scientists estimate about
8.7 million organisms, but only 1.2
million have been identified. Hence,
various efforts have been continually
made to discover them. Check out the
immortal organisms that defy death.
#6. Population
• When similar organisms group together, they form the
next level in the organization, a population. A
population is formed when such individuals reside in a
common environment at a given time. For instance, a
population can change over time due to several events
like births, mortality, and migration of organisms. The
number of individuals in a population often depends on
the abundance of resources and favorable climate. In
addition, predation and competition are also biological
factors that control populations.
#7. COMMUNITY
• Next to the hierarchy is the community. A
community is defined as the interactions of
different populations with each other. Various
interactions exist, such as mutualism,
commensalism, predation, parasitism, and
competition. Often, a certain population of
organisms dominates the community and hence
are relatively more abundant than others. Such
is considered a distinguishable characteristic
of a biological community.
#8. Ecosystem
A short term for “ecological system”, an
ecosystem is the interaction of (organisms,
population, and community) to their abiotic or
non-living environment. An ecosystem’s biotic
(living) members are highly dependent on such
abiotic factors as weather, sunlight, water
depth, salinity, and the availability of nutrients.
Hence, the presence or absence of even one
factor can greatly affect the ecosystem. In
addition, one distinct characteristic of an
ecosystem is that each organism has a “niche”
or role to perform.
#9. Biome
• Ever heard of tundra, savanna, desert, tropical
rain-forest, and grassland? Some of these are
quite familiar, but if you haven’t heard of them,
all mentioned are types of the next level in the
biological organization, the biome. As the
different environments describe, a biome is a
huge geographic area where various ecosystems
exist and organisms adapt. Generally, a biome is
more of the continental grouping of various
ecosystems in a particular climate. Further
Reading: Biological Weathering
#10. Biosphere
• Coming from the Greek word “bios” meaning “life”, and “sphaira”
meaning sphere, the biosphere is the topmost level in the hierarchy
of living organisms. A biosphere is a global system comprising
everything where life exists and the abiotic environments they
reside in. It is the sum of all ecosystems on Earth; hence, it is also
called the ecosphere.
• Our planet comprises various living things ranging from a simple
cell to a massive sphere of life forms. While each organism tends to
vary in size and function, no one lives alone and can live alone. Each
organism somehow depends on or affects the lives of other living
organisms and non-living factors in the environment. Any change in
a part of one system can drastically increase or decrease the
chances of survival of an organism.
•Absolutely, such hierarchy in
the biological organization is
sufficient to show life’s
complexity. Doesn’t that
make you appreciate life
more?