bio101

Biological Levels of Organization

The hierarchy of biological complexity from simplest to most complex is:

1. Cells
2. Tissues
3. Organs
4. Organ systems
5. Organism

Smallest Unit of Life

The cell is the smallest and most basic form of life, which can be either a prokaryote or a eukaryote.

Photosynthesis

The biological process that transforms solar energy into chemical energy, utilized by plants, algae, and certain bacteria.

Adaptation vs. Evolution

• Adaptation: A specific trait that enhances an individual's survival and reproductive success in its environment.
• Evolution: The genetic change in a population over many generations, typically driven by the process of natural selection.

Metabolism

The collective sequence of chemical reactions that occur within a cell to utilize nutrient molecules for energy and building cellular components.