Unifying Themes in the study of life:

Level of Biological Hierarchy

Level of Biological Hierarchy
Atoms are the
building blocks
of matter:
Example:
Hydrogen and
Oxygen
Molecules are
combination of atoms
formed through
chemical bonding
Example:
Water (H2O)
Glucose (C6H12O6)and
Salt (NaCl)
Tissues are groups of
cells performing
specific functions.
Example:
Skin tissue (epidermis, dermis,
and hypodermis).
Muscle tissue in animals and
humans
Conducting tissues in plants
(xylem and phloem)
Organs are formed from
clusters and layers of
tissues carrying specific
functions.
Example:
Heart, Brain, Lungs, in human
and animals
Leaves, stems, roots, in plants
Organ systems are
group of organs
functioning together
in a system.
Example:
Circulatory system,
respiratory system,
nervous system, and
reproductive system
Organisms are the
individuals in a
population functioning
and performing the
characteristics of living
things.
Example:
A Human, a dog, a mango tree
Population refers to
the group of
organisms of the
same species
interacting together.
Example:
Human population and
banana plantation
Community consists of
different populations
(different species)
living and sharing a
particular habitat.
Example:
A forest with trees and
undergrowth plants,
inhabited by animals and
bacterial and fungi in the soil
Ecosystem consists
of all ecosystems
on Earth, whether
they support life on
land, water, or
lower atmosphere.
It is where all
interaction happen
Biosphere composed of
communities interacting
with the non-living
components of the
environments which
include the soil, water,
temperature and even
light.
Example:
Tropical rainforest
Unifying Themes in the study of life:
Cycle of Nutrients and Energy Flow
 Cycle of Nutrients and
Energy Flow
• Nutrients cycle refers to the
movement and exchange of organic
and inorganic matter back into the
production of living matter.
• The different nutrient cycles include;
water cycle, oxygen cycle, carbon
cycle, nitrogen cycle, phosphorous
cycle, and Sulphur cycle
Producers use solar
energy to produce
organic material
through photosynthesis

Consumers herbivores
(plant-eating animals),
carnivores (meat-
eating animals)
Decomposers are
organisms that break
down dead or decaying
organisms
Pause and think about this
(a) Importance of the basic structures
(b) Human activities to Cycle of Nutrients