Levels of Biological Organization

1. Introduction

The scope of what’s studied in biology is very broad. Here are some examples.

  • Molecular biologists study molecules such as DNA or proteins.
  • Endocrinologists focus on the workings and diseases of one organ system, the endocrine system (a system of glands and hormones that regulates an animal’s body).
  • Ecologists study ecosystems: the interactions between the living things and non-living things in a specific area.

In between molecules, organ systems, and ecosystems, there are other levels as well.

2. Levels of Biological Organization: Vocabulary Matching

[qwiz qrecord_id=”sciencemusicvideosMeister1961-Levels of Biological Organization Matching” style=”width: 800px !important; min-height: 500px !important;”]

[h]Levels of Biological Organization: Vocabulary Matching

[i]Drag the terms to the right place in the pictures and tables that follow.

[q labels = “top”]

The table below describes these levels of biological organization, starting from the smallest level (molecules), and moving to the entire planet. Use logic and prior knowledge to drag the choices into the right spot. Once you get it right, study the table before moving on to the next cards.

Level Definition/ explanation Example
Molecule A group of ________ that are chemically bonded together. DNA
____________ A specialized part within a cell The nucleus of a cell
Cell The __________________________. Nerve cell
Tissue A group of ____________________ that perform a similar function. Muscle tissue
_________ A group of tissues joined as a unit to perform a function Stomach
Organ system A group of organs joined as a unit to perform a function ___________________
____________ An individual member of a species. A coyote
Population A ______________________ of the same species in the same area. Coyotes in the Yosemite National Park
Community The interacting, living populations that live in the same area. _____________________ (plants, animals, etc.) in Yosemite
Ecosystem A community of living organisms, and the non-living parts of their _______________ (energy, soil, air) The Yosemite park community, plus its energy, soil, etc.
Biosphere The zone of life on planet ________. The sum of all of the ecosystems on Earth. The Earth’s biosphere (it’s the only biosphere yet discovered)

[l]All the populations

[fx] No, that’s not correct. Please try again.

[f*] Good!

[l]atoms

[fx] No, that’s not correct. Please try again.

[f*] Great!

[l] the basic unit of life

[fx] No. Please try again.

[f*] Excellent!

[l]Digestive system

[fx] No. Please try again.

[f*] Good!

[l]Earth

[fx] No. Please try again.

[f*] Good!

[l]environment

[fx] No, that’s not correct. Please try again.

[f*] Great!

[l]group of organisms

[fx] No. Please try again.

[f*] Good!

[l]Organ

[fx] No, that’s not correct. Please try again.

[f*] Good!

[l]Organelle

[fx] No, that’s not correct. Please try again.

[f*] Excellent!

[l]Organism

[fx] No. Please try again.

[f*] Great!

[l]specialized cells

[fx] No. Please try again.

[f*] Excellent!

 

[q]Connect the levels of biological organization to the list below.

  1. A cell in a leaf doing photosynthesis:
    ___________________________
  2. A redwood tree:
    ___________________________
  3. Chlorophyll:
    ___________________________
  4. Chloroplast:
    ___________________________
  5. Leaf:
    ___________________________
  6. Planet earth:
    ___________________________
  7. Roots, stems, and veins in leaves that deliver water to leaf cells:
    ___________________________
  8. The cells on top of a leaf that secrete wax to prevent water loss:
    ___________________________
  9. The community of organisms in redwood national park, plus the energy flowing into the park, the air, water, soil, etc.:
    ___________________________
  10. The redwood forest, including all the plants, animals, and other organisms:
    ___________________________
  11. The redwood trees in Redwood National Park:
    ___________________________

[l]Molecule

[fx] No, that’s not correct.  Please try again.

[f*] Correct!

[l]Organelle

[fx] No, that’s not correct.  Please try again.

[f*] Great!

[l]Cell

[fx] No.  Please try again.

[f*] Good!

[l]Tissue

[fx] No, that’s not correct.  Please try again.

[f*] Good!

[l]Organ

[fx] No.  Please try again.

[f*] Excellent!

[l]Organ system

[fx] No, that’s not correct.  Please try again.

[f*] Good!

[l]Organism

[fx] No, that’s not correct.  Please try again.

[f*] Great!

[l]Population

[fx] No, that’s not correct.  Please try again.

[f*] Excellent!

[l]Community

[fx] No, that’s not correct.  Please try again.

[f*] Good!

[l]Ecosystem

[fx] No.  Please try again.

[f*] Good!

[l]Biosphere

[fx] No.  Please try again.

[f*] Excellent!

[q]Connect the levels of biological organization to the list below.

  1. A nerve cell:
    ______________________________
  2. A protein that stimulates nerve cells to send impulses:
    ______________________________
  3. A wolf:
    ______________________________
  4. All of the ecosystems on planet Earth:
    ______________________________
  5. All of the wolves in Yellowstone:
    ______________________________
  6. The brain, the nerves, and sensory organs (skin, eyes, ears):
    ______________________________
  7. The entire brain:
    ______________________________
  8. The nerve cells on the outer layer of the brain:
    ______________________________
  9. The nucleus of a nerve cell:
    ______________________________
  10. The wolves, all the other animals, the plants of Yellowstone Park.
    ______________________________
  11. The Yellowstone community, plus the energy, water, air, soil, etc.
    ______________________________

[l]Molecule

[fx] No, that’s not correct.  Please try again.

[f*] Excellent!

[l]Organelle

[fx] No.  Please try again.

[f*] Great!

[l]Cell

[fx] No.  Please try again.

[f*] Correct!

[l]Tissue

[fx] No.  Please try again.

[f*] Correct!

[l]Organ

[fx] No.  Please try again.

[f*] Correct!

[l]Organ system

[fx] No.  Please try again.

[f*] Great!

[l]Organism

[fx] No.  Please try again.

[f*] Good!

[l]Population

[fx] No, that’s not correct.  Please try again.

[f*] Great!

[l]Community

[fx] No.  Please try again.

[f*] Excellent!

[l]Ecosystem

[fx] No, that’s not correct.  Please try again.

[f*] Great!

[l]Biosphere

[fx] No, that’s not correct.  Please try again.

[f*] Good!

[q]Connect the levels of biological organization to the image below.

[l]biosphere

[fx] No.  Please try again.

[f*] Great!

[l]cell

[fx] No, that’s not correct.  Please try again.

[f*] Correct!

[l]community

[fx] No.  Please try again.

[f*] Good!

[l]ecosystem

[fx] No, that’s not correct.  Please try again.

[f*] Excellent!

[l]molecule

[fx] No.  Please try again.

[f*] Excellent!

[l]organ

[fx] No.  Please try again.

[f*] Great!

[l]organelle

[fx] No, that’s not correct.  Please try again.

[f*] Correct!

[l]organism

[fx] No.  Please try again.

[f*] Correct!

[l]organ system

[fx] No.  Please try again.

[f*] Great!

[l]population

[fx] No.  Please try again.

[f*] Good!

[l]tissue

[fx] No, that’s not correct.  Please try again.

[f*] Great!

[q]Connect the levels of biological organization to the image below.

[l]biosphere

[fx] No.  Please try again.

[f*] Great!

[l]cell

[fx] No, that’s not correct.  Please try again.

[f*] Good!

[l]community

[fx] No.  Please try again.

[f*] Excellent!

[l]ecosystem

[fx] No.  Please try again.

[f*] Correct!

[l]molecule

[fx] No, that’s not correct.  Please try again.

[f*] Correct!

[l]organ

[fx] No.  Please try again.

[f*] Good!

[l]organelle

[fx] No, that’s not correct.  Please try again.

[f*] Good!

[l]organism

[fx] No.  Please try again.

[f*] Great!

[l]organ system

[fx] No.  Please try again.

[f*] Great!

[l]population

[fx] No.  Please try again.

[f*] Good!

[l]tissue

[fx] No, that’s not correct.  Please try again.

[f*] Correct!

[x]

[/qwiz]

3. Levels of Biological Organization Flashcards

These flashcards will help you master the vocabulary associated with the levels of biological organization

[qdeck style=”width: 528px; border: 2px solid black; ” qrecord_id=”sciencemusicvideosMeister1961-Levels of Biological Organization Flashcards”]

[h] Flashcards: Levels of Biological Organization

[i] Here’s how these flashcards work.

  • Click ‘Check Answer’ to see the answer to each card.
  • If you know it, click ‘Got it.”
  • If you don’t know it as well as you’d like, click ‘Need more practice,’ and that card will go to the bottom of the deck so you can practice it again.
  • ‘Shuffle’ lets you shuffle the deck.

[!] Card 1+++++++++[/!]

[q]A group of atoms that are chemically bonded together is a _________.

[textentry]

[a]A group of atoms that are chemically bonded together is a molecule.

[!] Card 2+++++++++[/!]

[q]A specialized part within a cell is a(n) ____________.
[textentry]
[a]A specialized part within a cell is an organelle.

[!] Card 3+++++++++[/!]

[q]The basic unit of life is the __________.
[textentry]
[a]The basic unit of life is the cell

[!] Card 4+++++++++[/!]

[q]A group of specialized cells that perform a similar function is a(n) ___________.
[textentry]
[a]A group of specialized cells that perform a similar function is a tissue.

[!] Card 5+++++++++[/!]

[q]A group of tissues joined as a unit to perform a function is a(n) ___________.
[textentry]
[a]A group of tissues joined as a unit to perform a function is an organ.

[!] Card 6+++++++++[/!]

[q]A group of organs joined as a unit to perform a function is a(n) ___________.
[textentry]
[a]A group of organs joined as a unit to perform a function is an organ system

[!] Card 7+++++++++[/!]

[q]A distinct living thing is a(n) ___________.

[textentry]

[a]A distinct living thing is an organism

[!] Card 8+++++++++[/!]

[q]A group of organisms of the same species, living in the same area is a(n) ___________.

[textentry]

[a]A group of organisms of the same species, living in the same area is a population

[!] Card 9+++++++++[/!]

[q]The interacting, living populations, that live in the same area is a(n) ___________.

[textentry]

[a]The interacting, living populations, that live in the same area is a community

[!] Card 10+++++++++[/!]

[q]A community of living organisms, and their non-living parts of their environment (energy, soil, air) is a(n) ___________.

[textentry]

[a]A community of living organisms and their non-living parts of their environment (energy, soil, air) is an ecosystem.

[!] Card 11+++++++++[/!]

[q]The zone of life on planet Earth. The sum of all of the ecosystems on Earth is the ___________.
[textentry]

[a]The zone of life on planet Earth. The sum of all of the ecosystems on Earth is the biosphere

[x]If you want more practice, please press the restart button below. Otherwise, follow the links below.

[restart]
[/qdeck]

4. Next Steps