Cells and Systems

How do individual cells function together in a multicellular

organism?

Key Concept As multicellular organisms develop,

their cells differentiate (change & separate) to form different levels of organization

Key Concept

Why it Matters: so organisms like humans (we are multicellular) can have different kinds of cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems

Unicellular Organisms “uni-” = one Prokaryotes are unicellular organisms Some algae, some protists, and some

eukaryotes (yeasts), are unicellular Can individually do everything they

need to stay alive

Benefits over multicellular organisms: Need fewer resources Can live in harsher conditions

Multicellular Organisms “multi-” = more than one Plants, animals, some protists, and most

fungi are multicellular

Multicellular Organisms Start as a single cell many cells cells

differentiate (change) into different types of cells cells group together to form tissues

Multicellular Benefits Larger size = have less predators and

have more options of things to eat

Multicellular Benefits Longer life – organism will continue to live

even if a single cell dies

Multicellular Benefits Specialization – each type of cell has a

specific job, making the organism more efficient

Levels of Organization

1st Level: Cells

Levels of Organization

1st Level: Cells 2nd Level: Tissues

examplemuscle tissue

Levels of Organization

1st Level: Cells 2nd Level: Tissues 3rd Level: Organs

Levels of Organization

1st Level: Cells 2nd Level: Tissues 3rd Level: Organs 4th Level: Organ Systems

Cells Tissues Organs Organ Systems

Level 1 : Cells Cells can be specialized

(have a certain function) Function = job Function is related to the

cell structure Structure = how parts of

the cell are put together Shape Material it’s made from

Structure of a brain cell is different from muscle cell

Level 2: Tissues

Tissue = group of cells that work together to do a specific job

Ex: Heart muscle tissue is made of heart muscle cells

Animals have 4 types of tissue: nerve, muscle, connective, protective

Plants have 3 types of tissue : transport, protective, ground

Level 3: Organs Organ = structure that is made up of 2 or

more tissues working together to get a specific job done

Level 3: Organs

Ex: Stomach – muscle tissue moves food, special tissues make chemicals to digest food, connective tissue holds stomach together, nervous tissue sends messages back and forth between the stomach and brain

Level 4: Organ Systems Organ system = group of organs working

together to perform a specific function Each organ system has a specific job Ex: Digestive system is made of several

organs including the stomach and intestines

Cells-basic unit of an animal’s structure

-become specialized_______________________________

Tissues-made of cells that work together to perform a specific function

__________________________________________Organs

-made of different types of tissues that work together to perform a specific function

____________________________________________________Organ Systems

-made of organs that work together to perform a specific function_____________________________________________________________

Organisms