CHAPTER 2

HIERARCHY OF BIOLOGICAL
ORGANIZATION
2.1 Atom-Molecule-Organelle-Cells-Tissue-Organ-Organ
System-Organism
Atom
• the chemical of building blocks of all matter
• Example: Hydrogen (H), Oxygen (O), Carbon (C)

Molecule
• a chemical structure consisting of two or more
chemical units called atom
• Example: H2O, NaOH, NaCl, O2, H2
Organelle
• One of several formed bodies with specialized
functions, suspended in the cytoplasm of eukaryotic
cell
• Example: Nucleus, Mitochondria, Ribosome
Cells
• Life’s fundamental unit of structure and function
• Example: Epidermis cell, Parenchyma cell, Nerve
cell, Muscle cell
Tissue
• An integrated group of cells with a common function,
structure or both
• Example: Vascular tissue, Muscle tissue

Organ
• A specialized center of body function composed of
several different types of tissue
• Example: Leaf, Stem, Heart, Kidney

Organ System
• A group of organs that work together in performing
vital body function
• Example: Transportation system, Digestive system,
Respiration system

Organism
• An individual living thing
• Example: A tree, A human, A horse
2.2 Organism-Population-Community-Ecosystem-Biosp
Organism
• An individual living thing
• Example: A deer

Population
• A localized group of individuals that belong to the
same biological species that are capable of
interbreeding and producing fertile offspring
Community
• All the organisms that inhabit a particular area; an
assemblage of population of different species living
close enough together for potential interaction
Ecosystem
• All the organism in a given area as well as the
abiotic factors with which they interact; a
community and its physical environment.
Example: Tropical rain forest
Biosphere
• consists of all the environment on earth that are
inhabited by life
• Population is defined as groups of similar
individuals or of the same species that tend
to mate with each other and living in a
particular geographic area.

• Example, study of clam population’s rate of growth

relative to the temperature of surrounding water.
• Community is defined as the relationships
or interactions between groups of different
species.

• Example, the desert communities consist of

rabbits, coyotes, snakes, birds, mice and
such plants as sahuaro cactus (Carnegia
gigantea), creosote bush and others.