Name

CHAPTER 1

Class

Date

Cells: The Basic Units of Life

3 The Organization of Living Things

SECTION

National Science
Education Standards

BEFORE YOU READ

After you read this section, you should be able to answer
these questions:

LS 1a, 1d, 1e

What are the advantages of being multicellular?

What are the four levels of organization in living things?
How are structure and function related in an organism?

What Is an Organism?
Anything that can perform life processes by itself is an
organism. An organism made of a single cell is called a
unicellular organism. An organism made of many cells is a
multicellular organism. The cells in a multicellular organism
depend on each other for the organism to survive.

What Are the Benefits of Having Many Cells?

Some organisms exist as one cell. Others can be made of
trillions of cells. A multicellular organism is an organism
made of many cells.
There are three benefits of being multicellular: larger
size, longer life, and specialization of cells.

STUDY TIP
Outline As you read, make
an outline of this section. Use
the heading questions from
the section in your outline.
READING CHECK
1. Dene What is an
organism?

LARGER SIZE

Most multicellular organisms are bigger than one-celled

organisms. In general, a larger organism, such as an elephant,
has few predators.
LONGER LIFE

A multicellular organism usually lives longer than a

one-celled organism. A one-celled organism is limited to
the life span of its one cell. The life span of a multicellular
organism, however, is not limited to the life span of any
one of its cells.

READING CHECK
2. Identify Name one way
that being large can benet an
organism.

SPECIALIZATION

In a multicellular organism, each type of cell has a

particular job. Each cell does not have to do everything
the organism needs. Specialization makes the organism
more efficient.
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Cells: The Basic Units of Life

Name
SECTION 3

Class

Date

The Organization of Living Things continued

Standards Check
LS 1d Specialized cells perform
specialized functions in
multicellular organisms. Groups
of specialized cells cooperate to
form a tissue, such as a muscle.
Different tissues are in turn
grouped together and form
larger functional units, called
organs. Each type of cell, tissue,
and organ has a distinct structure
and set of functions that serve
the organism as a whole.

What Are the Four Levels of Organization

of Living Things?
Multicellular organisms have four levels of organization:
Cell

3. List What are the four

levels or organization for an
organism?

Tissue

Cells form
tissues.

Organ

Tissues form
organs.

Organs form
organ systems.

Organ system

TAKE A LOOK

4. Explain Are the cells

that make up heart tissue
prokaryotic or eukaryotic?
How do you know?

Organ systems form

organisms such as you.

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Cells: The Basic Units of Life

Name
SECTION 3

Class

Date

The Organization of Living Things continued

CELLS WORK TOGETHER AS TISSUES

A tissue is a group of cells that work together to perform a specific job. Heart muscle tissue, for example, is
made of many heart muscle cells.
TISSUES WORK TOGETHER AS ORGANS

Critical Thinking
5. Apply Concepts Do
prokaryotes have tissues?
Explain.

A structure made of two or more tissues that work

together to do a certain job is called an organ. Your
heart, for example, is an organ made of different tissues.
The heart has muscle tissues and nerve tissues that work
together.
ORGANS WORK TOGETHER AS ORGAN SYSTEMS

A group of organs working together to do a job is

called an organ system. An example of an organ system is your digestive system. Organ systems depend on
each other to help the organism function. For example,
the digestive system depends on the cardiovascular and
respiratory systems for oxygen.
HOW DOES STRUCTURE RELATE TO FUNCTION?

In an organism, the structure and function of part are

related. Function is the job the part does. Structure is
the arrangement of parts in an organism. It includes the
shape of a part or the material the part is made of.

The function of the lungs is to

bring oxygen to the body and
get rid of carbon dioxide. The
structure of the lungs helps
them to perform their function.

Say It
Name With a partner, name
as many of the organs in the
human body as you can.

Oxygen-poor
blood
Oxygen-rich
blood

The lungs contain

tiny, spongy sacs
that blood can ow
through. Carbon
dioxide moves out
of the blood and
into the sacs.
Oxygen ows from
the sacs into the
blood. If the lungs
didnt have this
structure, it would
be hard for them
to perform their
function.

Blood vessels

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Cells: The Basic Units of Life

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Section 3 Review

NSES

LS 1a, 1d, 1e

SECTION VOCABULARY
function the special, normal, or proper activity of
an organ or part
organ a collection of tissues that carry out a
specialized function of the body
organ system a group of organisms that work
together to perform body functions

organism a living thing; anything that can carry

out life processes independently
structure the arrangement of parts in an organism
tissue a group of similar cells that perform a
common function

1. List What are three benefits of being multicellular?

2. Apply Concepts Could an organism have organs but no tissues? Explain.

3. Compare How are structure and function different?

4. Explain What does specialization of cells mean?

5. Apply Concepts Why couldnt your heart have only cardiac tissue?

6. Explain Why do multicellular organisms generally live longer than unicellular

organisms?

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Cells: The Basic Units of Life

Cells, Heredity, and Classification Answer Key

Chapter 1 Cells: The Basic

Units of Life

SECTION 2 EUKARYOTIC CELLS

1.
2.
3.
4.

SECTION 1 THE DIVERSITY OF CELLS

1. a cell
2. Bacteriabacterial cells are usually smaller
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

10.
11.
12.

13.
14.

than other cells.

cell membrane, genetic material, organelles
DNA carries information on how to make
proteins, new cells, and new organisms.
Clockwise from left: cell membrane,
organelles, DNA
A eukaryotic cell has a nucleus; a
prokaryotic cell does not.
Many bacteria are helpful. Only some
bacteria can make you sick.
Left to right: DNA, flagellum, cell membrane,
cell wall
Cell walls are made of different materials;
many archaea can live in places no other
organisms can live.
a nucleus, membrane-bound organelles
in the nucleus
Cells are usually small because then they
have enough surface area for nutrients and
wastes to pass in and out of them. Because a
yolk doesnt need to take in nutrients, it can
be larger than most cells.
11:8
a smaller cell

5.
6.
7.

8.
9.
10.
11.

plants and fungi.

outside the cell membrane
nucleus, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum
To control what moves in and out of the
cell. It lets nutrients and water in and lets
wastes out.
They dont have a membrane.
Clockwise from top left: nucleolus, DNA,
pore, nuclear membrane
Smooth ER makes lipids and breaks down
harmful materials. Rough ER has ribosomes
that make proteins.
They have their own DNA.
Chloroplasts are used in photosynthesis.
Animal cells dont make their own food.
Package and distribute proteins.
cells of plants and fungi

Review
1. large central vacuole, chloroplasts, cell wall
2. Water can pass through the cell membrane

into the cell. Nutrients enter the cell through

proteins in the membrane.
3. The cell couldnt break down materials. Old
cell parts and dangerous materials would
build up and could damage or kill the cell.
4. A muscle cellmitochondria make energy
for a cell. A muscle cell would use more
energy than a skin cell.
5. structure, movement

Review
1. All living things are made of cells. The cell

SECTION 3 THE ORGANIZATION OF

LIVING THINGS

is the basic unit of all living things. All cells

come from other cells.
2. Prokaryotes: Cells have no nuclei; cells have
no membrane-bound organelles; cells are
smaller than eukaryotic cells; all are singlecelled.
Eukaryotes: Cells have nuclei; cells have
membrane-bound organelles; cells are larger
than prokaryotic cells; organisms may be
single-celled or multi-celled.
Both: Organisms are made of cells.
3. It is probably archaea, because it has no
nucleus like a prokaryote and can live at
high temperatures like some archaea.

1. anything that can perform life processes by

2.
3.
4.
5.

itself
In general, a large animal has fewer
predators.
cells, tissues, organs, organ systems
Eukaryoticeach cell has a nucleus.
No, prokaryotes have only one cell. Tissues
are made of groups of cells.

Review
1. Multicellular organisms are larger and dont

have as many predators. They typically live

longer than single-celled organisms. Cells in
a multicellular organism are specialized, so
they function more efficiently.

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Cells, Heredity, and Classification

Cells, Heredity, and Classification Answer Key continued

SECTION 2 CELL ENERGY

2. No. Organs are made of tissues, so to have

3.

4.

5.

6.

organs, an organism must have tissues.

Function is the purpose of a part, or the job
the part does. Structure is the arrangement
of parts in an organism.
Specialization of cells means that, in
multicellular organisms, different cells
perform different functions to help keep
the organism alive.
An organ has to have two or more tissues.
Tissues have to work together for an organ
to do a job.
The life span of a multicellular organism is not
limited to the life span of any one of its cells.

chloroplasts
glucose and oxygen
cellular respiration, fermentation
glucose and oxygen
carbon dioxide, water, energy (ATP)
Plants and animals wouldnt have oxygen for
cellular respiration. They couldnt use cellular respiration to get energy.
7. ATP

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Review
1. plant cells
2. Plant cells use carbon dioxide, water, and energy

Chapter 2 The Cell in Action

3.

SECTION 1 EXCHANGE WITH THE

ENVIRONMENT

4.

1. the movement of particles from areas of high

concentration to areas of low concentration

2. by diffusion
3. The 200 molecules of water have a higher

4.
5.
6.
7.

concentration of water because 100% of the

molecules are water.
Water moves into it by osmosis.
by osmosis
energy
The vesicle in the third picture should be
labeled.

5.

6.

Review
1. Both involve moving large particles across

2.
3.

4.
5.

the cell membrane. In endocytosis, particles

move into the cell. In exocytosis, particles
move out of the cell.
Osmosis is the diffusion of water across a
semipermeable membrane.
During passive transport, particles move
from areas of high concentration to areas of
low concentration. During active transport,
particles move from areas of low concentration to areas of high concentration. Active
transport uses energy from the cell, and passive transport does not.
channels
An arrow should point from the pure water
to the water mixed with sugar.

from the sun to make food by photosynthesis.

Chloroplasts make food for the plant, and
mitochondria break down the food to
release energy.
Each process gives the other the materials
it needs. Cellular respiration uses oxygen
and glucose and produces carbon dioxide,
water, and ATP. Photosynthesis uses carbon
dioxide, water, and sunlight and produces
glucose and oxygen.
Cellular respiration uses oxygen to break
down food. Fermentation does not. Cellular
respiration produces more energy than fermentation.
No, if cells dont have enough oxygen, they
break down glucose using fermentation.
When you exercise, for example, your muscle cells use up oxygen quickly. When there
is not enough oxygen left, the muscle cells
use fermentation.

SECTION 3 THE CELL CYCLE

1. The cell must make a copy of its DNA.
2. binary fission
3. Chromatids are copies of chromosomes that
4.
5.
6.
7.

are held together at the centromere.

interphase, mitosis, cytokinesis
eight more
prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase
cell plate

Review
1. In prokaryotic cells, the DNA is on a single,

circular chromosome. The DNA of eukaryotes is stored on many chromosomes.

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Cells, Heredity, and Classification