1. Life is organized in hierarchical levels from atoms to the biosphere. Atoms form molecules, organelles, cells, tissues, organs, organ systems, organisms, populations, communities, ecosystems and the biosphere. 2. There are key characteristics of life including chemical makeup of organic and inorganic molecules, cellular makeup of unicellular and multicellular organisms, reproduction, metabolism, excretion, definite form and lifespan, adaptation, and movement. 3. Organisms are classified based on their ability to produce their own food through photosynthesis as autotrophs or rely on other organisms for food as heterotrophs. Wastes are also excreted and organisms adapt to their environments.

2. Levelsof Biological
Organization

3. LESSON OUTLINE
Levels of Biological Organization
Characteristics of Life

4. Life is
complex, yet it
is organized.

5. It is organized like a
complete address:
(ex. Baesa Adventist
Academy, Baesa Road,
Caloocan City, Metro
Manila, Philippines, Asia,
World, Solar System,
Milky Way, Local Group
Clusters, Local Group
Superclusters, Universe)

7. Atom
Population
Organism
Organ System
Organ
Tissue
Biosphere
Ecosystem
Community
Cell
Organelle
Molecule (usually lifeless but essential to
formation of life)
(mostly
living)

8. 1. Atom
Atom > Molecule > Organelle > Cell > Tissue > Organ > Organ System > Organism
> Population > Community > Ecosystem >Biosphere
Definition Examples
The smallest
unit of matter
Oxygen (O2),
Helium (He)

9. 2. Molecule
Atom > Molecule > Organelle > Cell > Tissue > Organ > Organ System > Organism
> Population > Community > Ecosystem >Biosphere
Definition Examples
Group of atoms
chemically
bonded
together
DNA,
chlorophyll,
water, salt

10. 3. Organelle
Atom > Molecule > Organelle > Cell > Tissue > Organ > Organ System > Organism
> Population > Community > Ecosystem >Biosphere
Definition Examples
Specialized Chloroplast,
part w/in a nucleus,
cell vacuole,
mitochondria

11. 4. Cell
Atom > Molecule > Organelle > Cell > Tissue > Organ > Organ System > Organism
> Population > Community > Ecosystem >Biosphere
Definition Examples
The basic unit Nerve cell,
of life muscle cell,
plant cell, red
blood cell

12. 5. Tissue
Atom > Molecule > Organelle > Cell > Tissue > Organ > Organ System > Organism
> Population > Community > Ecosystem >Biosphere
Definition Examples
Group of Muscle tissue,
specialized cells skin tissue
that perform a
specific function

13. 6. Organ
Atom > Molecule > Organelle > Cell > Tissue > Organ > Organ System > Organism
> Population > Community > Ecosystem >Biosphere
Definition Examples
Group of Heart, brain,
tissues joined liver, skin,
as a unit to kidney
perform a
function

14. 7. Organ System
Definition Examples
Group of Nervous
organs joined system,
as a unit to circulatory
perform a system
function
Atom > Molecule > Organelle > Cell > Tissue > Organ > Organ System > Organism
> Population > Community > Ecosystem >Biosphere

15. 8. Organism
Definition Examples
A distinct Human,
living thing; snake,
classified into mushroom
unicellular or
multicellular
Atom > Molecule > Organelle > Cell > Tissue > Organ > Organ System > Organism
> Population > Community > Ecosystem >Biosphere

16. 9. Population
Definition Examples
A group of
organisms of
the same
species, living
in the same
area
Coyotes in
Yosemite Nat.
Park, dogs in
Baesa
Atom > Molecule > Organelle > Cell > Tissue > Organ > Organ System > Organism
> Population > Community > Ecosystem >Biosphere

17. 10. Community
Definition Examples
The
interacting,
living
populations,
that live in the
same area
All the
populations
(plants,
animals, fungi,
bacteria) in
Yosemite
Atom > Molecule > Organelle > Cell > Tissue > Organ > Organ System > Organism
> Population > Community > Ecosystem >Biosphere

18. 11. Ecosystem
Definition Examples
A community of
living organisms,
and their non-
living parts of the
environment
(energy, soil, etc.)
The Yosemite
community
plus its energy,
soil, etc.
Atom > Molecule > Organelle > Cell > Tissue > Organ > Organ System > Organism
> Population > Community > Ecosystem >Biosphere

19. 12. Biosphere or ecosphere
Definition Examples
The zone of life
on planet Earth.
The sum of all
ecosystems on
Earth.
The earth’s
biosphere (it’s
the only
biosphere yet
discovered)
Atom > Molecule > Organelle > Cell > Tissue > Organ > Organ System > Organism
> Population > Community > Ecosystem >Biosphere

20. How do we
differentiate a
living thing
from a non-
living thing?

21. CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE
1. Chemical or Molecular
Makeup
2. Cellular Makeup
3. Reproduction
4. Metabolism
5. Excretion
6. Definite Form, Size, and
Lifespan
7. Adaptation
8
. Movement

22. 1. Chemical or Molecular Makeup
All organisms are composed of both organic (ex. DNA) and
inorganic (ex. water, acids, bases, salts) molecules

23. 2. Cellular Makeup
All organisms are composed of cells.
Two kinds of cells:
1. Unicellular or prokaryotic (w/ one cell; ex. bacteria)
2. Multicellular or eukaryotic (w/ many cells; ex. human)

24. 3. Growth
All organisms grow and increase in size and volume due to
nutrients gained from food.
Intussusception is the growth of cells (for living things; ex.
cells dividing)
Accretion is growth without nutrient intake (for non-living
things; ex. growing rock)

25. 3. Reproduction
Organisms make offspring off their own kind.
Reproduction is essential to pass DNA to the offspring.
Sexual reproduction involves union of sex cells
Asexual reproduction does not require union of sex cells. It
is seen in lower forms of life (ex. Sponge, bacteria)

26. 5. Metabolism
Metabolism is the transformation of food to energy or vice
versa.
Organisms are classified as:
1. Autotrophs – have the ability to produce own food (ex.
plants, photosynthetic bacteria, algae)
2. Heterotrophs – cannot produce own food; depend on
other organisms for food (ex. humans, most animals)

27. 6. Excretion
All organisms remove wastes or toxic substances from the
body. (ex. Urination, lungs release CO2)

28. 7. Definite Form, Size, and Lifespan
All organisms have definite size, form, and lifespan.
Ants are small, whales are big, and you cannot expect a
human to be as big as n elephant.
Humans cannot live for 1,000 years like trees.

29. 9. Adaptation
All organisms are able to adapt to their environment.
Ex. Body responds to heat by sweating, birds migrate in
winter, bears sleep throughout winter

30. 10. Movement
All organisms move.
Movement refers to action done by organisms.
Motile organisms can move from one place to another (ex.
jaguar, human)
Nonmotile organisms cannot move from one place to
another (ex. plants, fungi)

31. Sources:
Science Links 7
http://www.sciencemusicvideos.com/structure-and-
function-levels-of-biological-organization-worksheet/