THE HIERARCHY OF LIFE

The organization of the biological world

How would you sort these? 1. With a partner, sort the

terms into 3 categories: things you know/think you know/don’t know

2. Compare and discuss your sort with another pair of students

3. Challenge: With a partner, sort the terms on the left from smallest to largest

4. Do you agree on the smallest and the largest?

Biosphere

Biome

Ecosystem

Community

Population

Organism

Organ system

Organ

Tissue

Cell

What is the smallest unit of life?

Click icon to add pictureThe cell

The Building Blocks

1. Cells are the basic building blocks of life

2. All living things are made up of cells

There are many kinds of cells

paramecium

red blood cellanimal cellplant cell

neuron

But why study cells?

Why study cells?

What can the study of the tiniest things tell us about the bigger world around us?

How does the structure and function of my cells impact how I live?

Cells videoControl click on link above

Cells can have special functions

Groups of cells functioning as a unit in a specialized activity are called tissue

Tissues can combine in special structures called organs which allow them to perform common tasks

Organ system A group of

organs interacting in ways that contribute to the survival of the organism

Image from http://image.tutorvista.com/content/animal-nutrition/human-digestive-system-structure.jpeg

Digestive system

Organism

A single celled or multi-celled individual that is a complete living unit

Amoeba(single celled organism)

The Definitions Biome: a major ecosystem with organisms adapted to similar environmental conditions

Community: populations of species occupying a given area

Ecosystem: a community and its physical environment

Cell: fundamental unit of life

Tissue: group of cells functioning as a unit in a specialized activity

Organ: tissues combined in specific structures which allow them to perform common tasks

Organ system: group of organs interacting in ways that contribute to the survival of the organism

Biosphere The part of the earth where living things exist.

Organism: a single celled or multi-celled individual functioning as a living unit

Population: group of individuals of the swame species occupying a given area

Challenge: Try the sort again using what you learned from the video, class discussionand these definitions

CELL

TISSUE

ORGAN

ORGAN SYSTEM

ORGANISM

POPULATION

ECOSYSTEM

COMMUNITY

BIOME

Try the sort again!

BIOSPHERE

CELL

TISSUE

ORGANORGAN SYSTEM

ORGANISMPOPULATIONECOSYSTEMCOMMUNITYBIOME

Try the sort again!

BIOSPHERE

Other cell video clips

Cell basics:elements of cells

Cell nutrition

Cell reproduction