Levels of Biological Organization

LEVELS of Biological Organization^{NAS-3
& 17}...                   (REDUCTIONISM^NAS-4)
     biosphere... all the environments of planet Earth that are inhabited by life
         ecosystem... (ex: tropical rain forest)
                                                        biotic factors    = all organisms living in an area
                                                      abiotic factors =   physical components of environment
          community...     all the organisms in the system
         population...       all interbreeding individuals of one species
         organism...         an individual living entity
                 organ systems...  circulatory, nervous, etc                 c8.fig 1.4*
                  organ...                    parts of the organ system : brain, spinal cord, nerves
                  tissue...                    individual groups of similar cells, with specific function

                     CELL...        ultimate unit of living matter, bounded by membrane,
                         macromolecule...  polymers of biological molecules...
                                                                    carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids
                             molecules...             a cluster of atoms with unique chemical properties
                                  atom...                      smallest unit of matter with same atomic number
                                  sub-atomic...          protons, neutrons, electrons (quarks, etc...)

                                                                        Campbell - Concept Activities - Chapter 1.1 - Levels of Life Card Game
copyright c2008    Last update - Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Charles Mallery,   Biology 150, Department of Biology,   University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33124