Characteristics and

classification of living
organisms
2.1 Organisms are made up of cells
Page # 22, 23, 24, 25
 Introducing…
Individual Level of Organisation (Biological Hierarchy):
In multicellular organisms, division of labour is at the level of
tissue or organ level. In such organisms though each cell
type is specialized for a specific function but no cell can
show independent existence and the cells show
interdependence. In coelenterates (e.g., Hydra, Obelia etc.),
similar cells coordinate to perform a specific function and
form the tissue. In them, there are four types of tissues and
division of labour is at the tissue level. This is called tissue
organisation
Biological Hierarchy: animal Cell
Biological Hierarchy: plant Cell
 Levels of Organization
 The living world can be organized into different levels. For
example, many individual organisms can be organized into the
following levels:

 Cell: Basic unit of structure and function of all living things.

Tissue: Group of cells of the same kind.
 Organ: Structure composed of one or more types of tissues.
The tissues of an organ work together to perfume a specific
function. Human organs include the brain, stomach, kidney, and
liver. Plant organs include roots, stems, and leaves.
 Levels of Organization
 Organ system: Group of organs that work together to perform
a certain function. Examples of organ systems in a human
include the skeletal, nervous, and reproductive systems.

 Organism: Individual living thing that may be made up of one

or more organ systems.

So a multicellular organism with organ-system organisation with following

categories:
Cells → Tissues → Organs → Organ systems → Organism
Key points