CHAPTER 1 EXPLORING LIFE STUDY GUIDE
THE HIERARCHY OF STRUCTURAL LEVELS WITHIN BIOLOGLY FROM
SIMPLEST TO MOST COMPLEX
1. Atoms: The smallest unit of matter that makes up the universe and retains the properties
of an element Neon, Argon, Helium
2. Molecules: made up of 2 or more atoms that are joined together by chemical bonds and
can be broken down to simpler substances H2O, C6H12O6
3. Organelles: Functional components that are structure within cells which are made up of
many macromolecules Nucleus, mitochondria, Golgi Apparatus
4. Cells: Basic unit of life that makes up all living things and considered a fundamental unit
of structure and function Stem cells, muscle cells, blood cells
5. Tissue: A group of identical cells with specialized functions working together Muscle
Tissue
6. Organs: A group of tissues working together that are body parts that carry out a
particular function in the body Heart, lungs, liver, brain, skin
7. Organ System: Organs that work together to perform particular functions Digestive
System
8. Organisms: An Individual living thing plants, humans, fungi, bacteria
9. Population: Groups of organisms (or individuals) of the same kind of living together in a
particular geographic location all people in New York
10. Community: Entire array of only living things coexisting and inhibiting a particular
ecosystem or within a given space sharks, fish, shrimp living in the same area
11. Ecosystem: All living things and nonliving components in a particular area that all
interact with each other Humans interacting with plants, animals in their surroundings
12. Biosphere: all life on earth and all the places where life exist regions of land or water
HOW CHEMICAL NUTRIENTS MOVE THROUGH THE ECOSYSTEM
Energy: Moves in one-way flow through the ecosystem. This cannot be recycled but it
can be replenished and used to be transformed in chemical reactions that help power life.
Energy is ultimately converted to heat that radiates back to its surroundings
Nutrients: Can be obtained from an organism’s living or non-living environments. This is
constantly cycled and recycled throughout the ecosystem and has the ability to change
forms and distribution
WHAT AN EMERGENT PROPERTY IS
The more the levels of hierarchy increase in complexity, it shows that each level is more
than its individual level/units as new properties arise. This is due to arrangement and
interaction between components at lower level
DISTINGUISHING A PROKARYOTIC CELL AND EUKARYOTIC CELL
Eukaryotic Cell
o Evolved from prokaryotic cells
o Has a membrane bound organelles
o Has a nucleus that contains DNA
o Cells make up the human body
o Cell enclosed a plasma membrane
THE HIERARCHY OF STRUCTURAL LEVELS WITHIN BIOLOGLY FROM
SIMPLEST TO MOST COMPLEX
1. Atoms: The smallest unit of matter that makes up the universe and retains the properties
of an element Neon, Argon, Helium
2. Molecules: made up of 2 or more atoms that are joined together by chemical bonds and
can be broken down to simpler substances H2O, C6H12O6
3. Organelles: Functional components that are structure within cells which are made up of
many macromolecules Nucleus, mitochondria, Golgi Apparatus
4. Cells: Basic unit of life that makes up all living things and considered a fundamental unit
of structure and function Stem cells, muscle cells, blood cells
5. Tissue: A group of identical cells with specialized functions working together Muscle
Tissue
6. Organs: A group of tissues working together that are body parts that carry out a
particular function in the body Heart, lungs, liver, brain, skin
7. Organ System: Organs that work together to perform particular functions Digestive
System
8. Organisms: An Individual living thing plants, humans, fungi, bacteria
9. Population: Groups of organisms (or individuals) of the same kind of living together in a
particular geographic location all people in New York
10. Community: Entire array of only living things coexisting and inhibiting a particular
ecosystem or within a given space sharks, fish, shrimp living in the same area
11. Ecosystem: All living things and nonliving components in a particular area that all
interact with each other Humans interacting with plants, animals in their surroundings
12. Biosphere: all life on earth and all the places where life exist regions of land or water
HOW CHEMICAL NUTRIENTS MOVE THROUGH THE ECOSYSTEM
Energy: Moves in one-way flow through the ecosystem. This cannot be recycled but it
can be replenished and used to be transformed in chemical reactions that help power life.
Energy is ultimately converted to heat that radiates back to its surroundings
Nutrients: Can be obtained from an organism’s living or non-living environments. This is
constantly cycled and recycled throughout the ecosystem and has the ability to change
forms and distribution
WHAT AN EMERGENT PROPERTY IS
The more the levels of hierarchy increase in complexity, it shows that each level is more
than its individual level/units as new properties arise. This is due to arrangement and
interaction between components at lower level
DISTINGUISHING A PROKARYOTIC CELL AND EUKARYOTIC CELL
Eukaryotic Cell
o Evolved from prokaryotic cells
o Has a membrane bound organelles
o Has a nucleus that contains DNA
o Cells make up the human body
o Cell enclosed a plasma membrane
