Characteristics of Life and Levels of Organization

All living organisms share certain characteristics. Which of the following is NOT a trait shared by all living things?

• consumes and uses energy from surroundings

• made of cells

• able to move from place to place

• produces offspring

While exploring a new planet that is very similar to Earth, Andrea comes across a pile of objects that may be the inhabitants of this world.

Which methods could Andrea use to determine whether these objects are alive? (check all that apply)

• see if it moves over time

• observe the object to see if it grows in size or reproduces

• see if it breathes oxygen

• check to see if it has an internal temperature that stays the same

• poke it with a stick to see if it responds

Rank each of the micro levels of organization so that they are arranged in the correct order, from largest to smallest.

• organs and organ systems

• cells

• tissues

• organism

• organelles

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-3

Use the terms to label the seven micro-levels of organization.

e

f

a

b

c

d

g

organ

organism

atom

organ system

tissue

molecule

cell

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-1

NGSS.MS-LS1-2

Cell differentiation results in specialized cells that carry out specific functions in multicellular organisms. Cells of one specific type are grouped together, these specific groups work together and so on. Rank the levels of organization in a human from simplest (or smallest) or most complex.

• squamous cell

• epithelial tissue

• respiratory system

• lung (organ)

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-3

To understand organisms, biologists study the workings of organisms, of their parts, and of the parts of their parts. These parts are organized into levels, such as organ, system, tissue, and cell.

How is a tissue different from the other levels?

• A tissue is a group of similar cells performing one function.

• A tissue is a group of similar organs performing one function.

• A tissue is a system of organs that perform a common function.

• A tissue is a group of different cell types working separately.

Multicellular organisms contain specialized levels of organization that allow for a division of labor.

Which statement about the organization level of organ systems is accurate?

• An organ system consists of only one cell type.

• Examples of systems are digestive and nervous.

• Examples of systems are red blood cells and neurons.

• An organ system is a group of tissues that cooperate in a series of related functions.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-3

Which statement regarding biological organization is FALSE?

• communities include populations of different species and their environment.

• Teacher, students, parents, and babies could all be included in one population.

• Organs and organ systems are the last level of organization that we can closely observe without a microscope.

• All organisms are made up of molecules.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

Rank the levels of living systems so that they are arranged in the correct order, from the largest and most complex, to the smallest and simplest.

• ecosystem

• population

• organism

• community

• cells

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-1

NGSS.MS-LS1-3

Use the terms to label the six macro-levels of organization.

a

b

c

d

e

f

ecosystem

individual

biome

biosphere

community

population

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-2