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class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5</span> <span>Notes</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Notes-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Notes subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Notes-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-References" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#References"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5.1</span> <span>References</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-References-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-External_links" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#External_links"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6</span> <span>External links</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-External_links-sublist" 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contents</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-unpinned-container" class="vector-unpinned-container"> </div> </div> </div> </nav> <h1 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading mw-first-heading"><span class="mw-page-title-main">Biological organisation</span></h1> <div id="p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown mw-portlet mw-portlet-lang" > <input type="checkbox" id="p-lang-btn-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox mw-interlanguage-selector" aria-label="Go to an article in another language. Available in 31 languages" > <label id="p-lang-btn-label" for="p-lang-btn-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--action-progressive mw-portlet-lang-heading-31" aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-language-progressive mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-language-progressive"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">31 languages</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ar mw-list-item"><a href="https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA%D8%A8_%D8%AD%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%8A" title="تراتب حيوي – Arabic" lang="ar" hreflang="ar" data-title="تراتب حيوي" data-language-autonym="العربية" data-language-local-name="Arabic" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>العربية</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-az mw-list-item"><a href="https://az.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C9%99yat%C4%B1n_t%C9%99%C5%9Fkili_s%C9%99viyy%C9%99l%C9%99ri" title="Həyatın təşkili səviyyələri – Azerbaijani" lang="az" hreflang="az" data-title="Həyatın təşkili səviyyələri" data-language-autonym="Azərbaycanca" data-language-local-name="Azerbaijani" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Azərbaycanca</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-bn mw-list-item"><a href="https://bn.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A6%9C%E0%A7%88%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%95_%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%82%E0%A6%97%E0%A6%A0%E0%A6%A8" title="জৈবিক সংগঠন – Bangla" lang="bn" hreflang="bn" data-title="জৈবিক সংগঠন" data-language-autonym="বাংলা" data-language-local-name="Bangla" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>বাংলা</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ba mw-list-item"><a href="https://ba.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9E%D1%80%D0%B3%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BA_%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%8A%D1%8F%D0%BD%D1%8B%D2%A3_%D1%82%D3%A9%D2%99%D3%A9%D0%BB%D3%A9%D1%88_%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%BC%D3%99%D0%BB%D0%B4%D3%99%D1%80%D0%B5" title="Органик донъяның төҙөлөш кимәлдәре – Bashkir" lang="ba" hreflang="ba" data-title="Органик донъяның төҙөлөш кимәлдәре" data-language-autonym="Башҡортса" data-language-local-name="Bashkir" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Башҡортса</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ca mw-list-item"><a href="https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organitzaci%C3%B3_biol%C3%B2gica" title="Organització biològica – Catalan" lang="ca" hreflang="ca" data-title="Organització biològica" data-language-autonym="Català" data-language-local-name="Catalan" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Català</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-cv mw-list-item"><a href="https://cv.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9F%D1%83%D1%80%D0%BD%C4%83%C3%A7_%D0%B9%C4%95%D1%80%D0%BA%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%C4%95%D0%B2%C4%95%D0%BD_%D1%88%D0%B0%D0%B9%C4%95" title="Пурнăç йĕркеленĕвĕн шайĕ – Chuvash" lang="cv" hreflang="cv" data-title="Пурнăç йĕркеленĕвĕн шайĕ" data-language-autonym="Чӑвашла" data-language-local-name="Chuvash" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Чӑвашла</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-es mw-list-item"><a href="https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organizaci%C3%B3n_biol%C3%B3gica" title="Organización biológica – Spanish" lang="es" hreflang="es" data-title="Organización biológica" data-language-autonym="Español" data-language-local-name="Spanish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Español</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-eo mw-list-item"><a href="https://eo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biologia_organizado" title="Biologia organizado – Esperanto" lang="eo" hreflang="eo" data-title="Biologia organizado" data-language-autonym="Esperanto" data-language-local-name="Esperanto" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Esperanto</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-eu mw-list-item"><a href="https://eu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antolamendu_biologikoa" title="Antolamendu biologikoa – Basque" lang="eu" hreflang="eu" data-title="Antolamendu biologikoa" data-language-autonym="Euskara" data-language-local-name="Basque" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Euskara</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fa mw-list-item"><a href="https://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%B2%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AF%D9%87%DB%8C_%D8%B2%DB%8C%D8%B3%D8%AA%DB%8C" title="سازماندهی زیستی – Persian" lang="fa" hreflang="fa" data-title="سازماندهی زیستی" data-language-autonym="فارسی" data-language-local-name="Persian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>فارسی</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fr mw-list-item"><a href="https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niveau_d%27organisation_(biologie)" title="Niveau d'organisation (biologie) – French" lang="fr" hreflang="fr" data-title="Niveau d'organisation (biologie)" data-language-autonym="Français" data-language-local-name="French" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Français</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hr mw-list-item"><a href="https://hr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organizacijska_ljestvica_%C5%BEivog_svijeta" title="Organizacijska ljestvica živog svijeta – Croatian" lang="hr" hreflang="hr" data-title="Organizacijska ljestvica živog svijeta" data-language-autonym="Hrvatski" data-language-local-name="Croatian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Hrvatski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-id mw-list-item"><a href="https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organisasi_biologis" title="Organisasi biologis – Indonesian" lang="id" hreflang="id" data-title="Organisasi biologis" data-language-autonym="Bahasa Indonesia" data-language-local-name="Indonesian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Bahasa Indonesia</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-he mw-list-item"><a href="https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%90%D7%A8%D7%92%D7%95%D7%9F_%D7%91%D7%99%D7%95%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%92%D7%99" title="ארגון ביולוגי – Hebrew" lang="he" hreflang="he" data-title="ארגון ביולוגי" data-language-autonym="עברית" data-language-local-name="Hebrew" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>עברית</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-kk mw-list-item"><a href="https://kk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A2%D1%96%D1%80%D1%88%D1%96%D0%BB%D1%96%D0%BA_%D0%B4%D0%B5%D2%A3%D0%B3%D0%B5%D0%B9%D0%BB%D0%B5%D1%80%D1%96" title="Тіршілік деңгейлері – Kazakh" lang="kk" hreflang="kk" data-title="Тіршілік деңгейлері" data-language-autonym="Қазақша" data-language-local-name="Kazakh" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Қазақша</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hu mw-list-item"><a href="https://hu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biol%C3%B3giai_hierarchia" title="Biológiai hierarchia – Hungarian" lang="hu" hreflang="hu" data-title="Biológiai hierarchia" data-language-autonym="Magyar" data-language-local-name="Hungarian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Magyar</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ms mw-list-item"><a href="https://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organisasi_biologi" title="Organisasi biologi – Malay" lang="ms" hreflang="ms" data-title="Organisasi biologi" data-language-autonym="Bahasa Melayu" data-language-local-name="Malay" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Bahasa Melayu</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-mn mw-list-item"><a href="https://mn.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%91%D0%B8%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%B8%D0%B9%D0%BD_%D0%B7%D0%BE%D1%85%D0%B8%D0%BE%D0%BD_%D0%B1%D0%B0%D0%B9%D0%B3%D1%83%D1%83%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%BB%D1%82" title="Биологийн зохион байгуулалт – Mongolian" lang="mn" hreflang="mn" data-title="Биологийн зохион байгуулалт" data-language-autonym="Монгол" data-language-local-name="Mongolian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Монгол</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-nl mw-list-item"><a href="https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organisatieniveau_(biologie)" title="Organisatieniveau (biologie) – Dutch" lang="nl" hreflang="nl" data-title="Organisatieniveau (biologie)" data-language-autonym="Nederlands" data-language-local-name="Dutch" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Nederlands</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ja mw-list-item"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%94%9F%E5%91%BD%E3%81%AE%E9%9A%8E%E5%B1%A4" title="生命の階層 – Japanese" lang="ja" hreflang="ja" data-title="生命の階層" data-language-autonym="日本語" data-language-local-name="Japanese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>日本語</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pl mw-list-item"><a href="https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poziomy_organizacji_%C5%BCywej_materii" title="Poziomy organizacji żywej materii – Polish" lang="pl" hreflang="pl" data-title="Poziomy organizacji żywej materii" data-language-autonym="Polski" data-language-local-name="Polish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Polski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pt mw-list-item"><a href="https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organiza%C3%A7%C3%A3o_biol%C3%B3gica" title="Organização biológica – Portuguese" lang="pt" hreflang="pt" data-title="Organização biológica" data-language-autonym="Português" data-language-local-name="Portuguese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Português</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ru mw-list-item"><a href="https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A3%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BD%D0%B8_%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B3%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%B0%D1%86%D0%B8%D0%B8_%D0%B6%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BD%D0%B8" title="Уровни организации жизни – Russian" lang="ru" hreflang="ru" data-title="Уровни организации жизни" data-language-autonym="Русский" data-language-local-name="Russian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Русский</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sr mw-list-item"><a href="https://sr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9D%D0%B8%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%B8_%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B3%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%B0%D1%86%D0%B8%D1%98%D0%B5_%D0%B6%D0%B8%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%B3_%D1%81%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%82%D0%B0" title="Нивои организације живог света – Serbian" lang="sr" hreflang="sr" data-title="Нивои организације живог света" data-language-autonym="Српски / srpski" data-language-local-name="Serbian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Српски / srpski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fi mw-list-item"><a href="https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biologinen_hierarkia" title="Biologinen hierarkia – Finnish" lang="fi" hreflang="fi" data-title="Biologinen hierarkia" data-language-autonym="Suomi" data-language-local-name="Finnish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Suomi</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-tt mw-list-item"><a href="https://tt.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A2%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B5_%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%B1%D0%B8%D0%B3%D0%B0%D1%82%D1%8C%D0%BD%D0%B5%D2%A3_%D0%BE%D0%B5%D1%88%D1%83_%D0%BA%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%BB%D0%B0%D1%80%D1%8B" title="Тере табигатьнең оешу катлары – Tatar" lang="tt" hreflang="tt" data-title="Тере табигатьнең оешу катлары" data-language-autonym="Татарча / tatarça" data-language-local-name="Tatar" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Татарча / tatarça</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-tr mw-list-item"><a href="https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biyolojik_organizasyon" title="Biyolojik organizasyon – Turkish" lang="tr" hreflang="tr" data-title="Biyolojik organizasyon" data-language-autonym="Türkçe" data-language-local-name="Turkish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Türkçe</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-uk mw-list-item"><a href="https://uk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A0%D1%96%D0%B2%D0%BD%D1%96_%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B3%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%96%D0%B7%D0%B0%D1%86%D1%96%D1%97_%D0%B6%D0%B8%D0%B2%D0%BE%D1%97_%D0%BC%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%80%D1%96%D1%97" title="Рівні організації живої матерії – Ukrainian" lang="uk" hreflang="uk" data-title="Рівні організації живої матерії" data-language-autonym="Українська" data-language-local-name="Ukrainian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Українська</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ur mw-list-item"><a href="https://ur.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%AD%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%AA%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%AA%DB%8C_%DB%81%D9%86%D8%AF%D8%B3%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%AA" title="حیاتیاتی ہندسیات – Urdu" lang="ur" hreflang="ur" data-title="حیاتیاتی ہندسیات" data-language-autonym="اردو" data-language-local-name="Urdu" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>اردو</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-vi mw-list-item"><a href="https://vi.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%E1%BB%95_ch%E1%BB%A9c_sinh_h%E1%BB%8Dc" title="Tổ chức sinh học – Vietnamese" lang="vi" hreflang="vi" data-title="Tổ chức sinh học" data-language-autonym="Tiếng Việt" data-language-local-name="Vietnamese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Tiếng Việt</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-zh-yue mw-list-item"><a href="https://zh-yue.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%94%9F%E7%89%A9%E5%88%86%E5%B1%A4" title="生物分層 – Cantonese" lang="yue" hreflang="yue" data-title="生物分層" data-language-autonym="粵語" data-language-local-name="Cantonese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>粵語</span></a></li> </ul> <div class="after-portlet after-portlet-lang"><span class="wb-langlinks-edit wb-langlinks-link"><a href="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Special:EntityPage/Q803888#sitelinks-wikipedia" title="Edit interlanguage links" class="wbc-editpage">Edit links</a></span></div> </div> </div> </div> </header> <div class="vector-page-toolbar"> <div 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.hatnote{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output div.hatnote{padding-left:1.6em;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .hatnote i{font-style:normal}.mw-parser-output .hatnote+link+.hatnote{margin-top:-0.5em}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .hatnote{display:none!important}}</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">"Hierarchy of life" and "Levels of organization" redirect here. For the hierarchical ordering and organization of all organisms, see <a href="/wiki/Taxonomy_(biology)" title="Taxonomy (biology)">Biological classification</a>. For the evolutionary hierarchy of organisms and interspecial relationships, see <a href="/wiki/Phylogenetic_tree" title="Phylogenetic tree">Phylogenetic tree</a>.</div> <p class="mw-empty-elt"> </p> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><span><video id="mwe_player_0" poster="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2b/Shimmering_bees_drive_hornet_away.ogv/220px--Shimmering_bees_drive_hornet_away.ogv.jpg" controls="" preload="none" data-mw-tmh="" class="mw-file-element" width="220" height="132" data-durationhint="7" data-mwtitle="Shimmering_bees_drive_hornet_away.ogv" data-mwprovider="wikimediacommons" resource="/wiki/File:Shimmering_bees_drive_hornet_away.ogv"><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/2/2b/Shimmering_bees_drive_hornet_away.ogv/Shimmering_bees_drive_hornet_away.ogv.360p.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp8, vorbis"" data-transcodekey="360p.webm" data-width="584" data-height="350" /><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2b/Shimmering_bees_drive_hornet_away.ogv" type="video/ogg; codecs="theora"" data-width="584" data-height="350" /><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/2/2b/Shimmering_bees_drive_hornet_away.ogv/Shimmering_bees_drive_hornet_away.ogv.240p.vp9.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp9, opus"" data-transcodekey="240p.vp9.webm" data-width="400" data-height="240" /></video></span><figcaption>A population of bees shimmers in response to a predator.</figcaption></figure> <p><b>Biological organisation</b> is the organisation of <a href="/wiki/Complex_system" title="Complex system">complex</a> <a href="/wiki/Biology" title="Biology">biological</a> <a href="/wiki/Structure" title="Structure">structures</a> and <a href="/wiki/System" title="System">systems</a> that define <a href="/wiki/Life" title="Life">life</a> using a <a href="/wiki/Reductionism" title="Reductionism">reductionistic</a> approach.<sup id="cite_ref-Solomon_intro_1-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Solomon_intro-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The traditional hierarchy, as detailed below, extends from <a href="/wiki/Atom" title="Atom">atoms</a> to <a href="/wiki/Biosphere" title="Biosphere">biospheres</a>. The higher levels of this scheme are often referred to as an <b>ecological organisation</b> concept, or as the <a href="/wiki/Branches_of_science" title="Branches of science">field</a>, <a href="#Fundamentals">hierarchical ecology</a>. </p><p>Each level in the hierarchy represents an increase in organisational <a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/complexity" class="extiw" title="wikt:complexity">complexity</a>, with each "object" being primarily composed of the previous level's basic unit.<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The basic principle behind the organisation is the concept of <i><a href="/wiki/Emergence" title="Emergence">emergence</a></i>—the properties and functions found at a hierarchical level are not present and irrelevant at the lower levels. </p><p>The biological organisation of life is a fundamental premise for numerous areas of <a href="/wiki/Scientific_method" title="Scientific method">scientific</a> <a href="/wiki/Research" title="Research">research</a>, particularly in the <a href="/wiki/Medicine" title="Medicine">medical sciences</a>. Without this necessary degree of organisation, it would be much more difficult—and likely impossible—to apply the study of the effects of various <a href="/wiki/Phenomenon" title="Phenomenon">physical</a> and <a href="/wiki/Chemistry" title="Chemistry">chemical</a> phenomena to <a href="/wiki/Disease" title="Disease">diseases</a> and <a href="/wiki/Physiology" title="Physiology">physiology</a> (body function). For example, fields such as <a href="/wiki/Cognitive_neuroscience" title="Cognitive neuroscience">cognitive</a> and <a href="/wiki/Behavioral_neuroscience" title="Behavioral neuroscience">behavioral neuroscience</a> could not exist if the brain was not composed of specific types of cells, and the basic concepts of <a href="/wiki/Pharmacology" title="Pharmacology">pharmacology</a> could not exist if it was not known that a change at the cellular level can affect an entire organism. These applications extend into the <a href="/wiki/Ecology" title="Ecology">ecological</a> levels as well. For example, <a href="/wiki/DDT" title="DDT">DDT</a>'s direct <a href="/wiki/Insecticide" title="Insecticide">insecticidal</a> effect occurs at the <a href="/wiki/Cell_(biology)#Subcellular_components" title="Cell (biology)">subcellular</a> level, but affects higher levels up to and including multiple <a href="/wiki/Ecosystem" title="Ecosystem">ecosystems</a>. Theoretically, a change in one <a href="/wiki/Atom" title="Atom">atom</a> could change the entire <a href="/wiki/Biosphere" title="Biosphere">biosphere</a>. </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Levels">Levels</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Biological_organisation&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Levels"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">See also: <a href="/wiki/Integrative_level" title="Integrative level">Integrative level</a></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Levels_of_Organization.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/38/Levels_of_Organization.svg/220px-Levels_of_Organization.svg.png" decoding="async" width="220" height="799" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/38/Levels_of_Organization.svg/330px-Levels_of_Organization.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/38/Levels_of_Organization.svg/440px-Levels_of_Organization.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="512" data-file-height="1860" /></a><figcaption>The simplest unit in this hierarchy is the atom, like oxygen. Two or more atoms is a molecule, like a dioxide. Many small molecules may combine in a chemical reaction to make up a macromolecule, such as a phospholipid. Multiple macromolecules form a cell, like a club cell. A group of cells functioning together as a tissue, for example, Epithelial tissue. Different tissues make up an organ, like a lung. Organs work together to form an organ system, such as the Respiratory System. All of the organ systems make a living organism, like a lion. A group of the same organism living together in an area is a population, such as a pride of lions. Two or more populations interacting with each other form a community, for example, lion and zebra populations interacting with each other. Communities interacting not only with each other but also with the physical environment encompass an ecosystem, such as the Savanna ecosystem. All of the ecosystems make up the biosphere, the area of life on Earth.</figcaption></figure> <p>The simple standard biological organisation scheme, from the lowest level to the highest level, is as follows:<sup id="cite_ref-Solomon_intro_1-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Solomon_intro-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <td colspan="3" style="vertical-align:middle;text-align:left"><i>For levels smaller than atoms see <a href="/wiki/Subatomic_particle" title="Subatomic particle">Subatomic particle</a></i> </td></tr> <tr> <td rowspan="3" style="vertical-align:middle;text-align:left"><i>Acellular level<br />and<br />Pre-cellular level</i></td> <td><a href="/wiki/Atom" title="Atom">Atoms</a></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Molecule" title="Molecule">Molecule</a></td> <td>Groups of atoms </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Biomolecular_complex" class="mw-redirect" title="Biomolecular complex">Biomolecular complex</a></td> <td>Groups of (bio)molecules </td></tr> <tr> <td style="vertical-align:bottom;text-align:left"><i>Sub-cellular level</i></td> <td><a href="/wiki/Organelle" title="Organelle">Organelle</a></td> <td>Functional groups of biomolecules, biochemical reactions and interactions </td></tr> <tr> <td style="vertical-align:bottom;text-align:left"><i>Cellular level</i></td> <td><a href="/wiki/Cell_(biology)" title="Cell (biology)">Cell</a></td> <td>Basic unit of all life and the grouping of organelles </td></tr> <tr> <td style="vertical-align:bottom;text-align:left"><i>Super-cellular level<br />(Multicellular level)</i></td> <td><a href="/wiki/Tissue_(biology)" title="Tissue (biology)">Tissue</a></td> <td>Functional groups of cells </td></tr> <tr> <td rowspan="2"></td> <td><a href="/wiki/Organ_(biology)" title="Organ (biology)">Organ</a></td> <td>Functional groups of tissues </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Organ_system" title="Organ system">Organ system</a></td> <td>Functional groups of organs </td></tr> <tr> <td rowspan="7"><i>Ecological levels</i></td> <td><a href="/wiki/Organism" title="Organism">Organism</a></td> <td>The basic living system, a functional grouping of the lower-level components, including at least one cell </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Population" title="Population">Population</a></td> <td>Groups of organisms of the same <a href="/wiki/Species" title="Species">species</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Guild_(ecology)" title="Guild (ecology)">Guild</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Biological_interaction" title="Biological interaction">Interspecific</a> groups of organisms carrying the same ecological function (i.e. <a href="/wiki/Herbivore" title="Herbivore">herbivores</a>). </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Community_(ecology)" title="Community (ecology)">Community</a> <br />(or <a href="/wiki/Biocoenosis" title="Biocoenosis">biocoenosis</a>)</td> <td>Guilds from all biological <a href="/wiki/Domain_(biology)" title="Domain (biology)">domains</a>, and their interactions in a specific location. </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Ecosystem" title="Ecosystem">Ecosystem</a></td> <td>Groups of organisms in conjunction with the physical (<a href="/wiki/Abiotic" class="mw-redirect" title="Abiotic">abiotic</a>) environment. </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Biome" title="Biome">Biome</a></td> <td>Continental scale (climatically and geographically contiguous areas with similar climatic conditions) grouping of ecosystems. </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Biosphere" title="Biosphere">Biosphere</a> or <br /><a href="/wiki/Earth%27s_spheres" class="mw-redirect" title="Earth's spheres">Ecosphere</a></td> <td>All life on Earth or all life plus the physical (abiotic) environment<sup id="cite_ref-Huggett1999_3-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Huggett1999-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td colspan="3" style="vertical-align:middle;text-align:left"><i>For levels larger than Biosphere or Ecosphere, see <a href="/wiki/Earth%27s_location_in_the_Universe" class="mw-redirect" title="Earth's location in the Universe">Earth's location in the Universe</a></i> </td></tr> </tbody></table> <p>More complex schemes incorporate many more levels. For example, a molecule can be viewed as a grouping of <a href="/wiki/Chemical_element" title="Chemical element">elements</a>, and an atom can be further divided into <a href="/wiki/Subatomic_particle" title="Subatomic particle">subatomic particles</a> (these levels are outside the scope of biological organisation). Each level can also be broken down into its own hierarchy, and specific types of these biological objects can have their own hierarchical scheme. For example, <a href="/wiki/Genome" title="Genome">genomes</a> can be further subdivided into a hierarchy of <a href="/wiki/Gene" title="Gene">genes</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Each level in the hierarchy can be described by its lower levels. For example, the organism may be described at any of its component levels, including the atomic, molecular, cellular, histological (tissue), organ and organ system levels. Furthermore, at every level of the hierarchy, new functions necessary for the control of life appear. These new roles are not functions that the lower level components are capable of and are thus referred to as <i><a href="/wiki/Emergence#Emergent_properties_and_processes" title="Emergence">emergent properties</a></i>. </p><p>Every organism is organised, though not necessarily to the same degree.<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> An organism can not be organised at the <a href="/wiki/Histological" class="mw-redirect" title="Histological">histological</a> (tissue) level if it is not composed of tissues in the first place.<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Emergence_of_biological_organisation">Emergence of biological organisation</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Biological_organisation&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Emergence of biological organisation"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Biological organisation is thought to have emerged in the early <a href="/wiki/RNA_world_hypothesis" class="mw-redirect" title="RNA world hypothesis">RNA world</a> when <a href="/wiki/RNA" title="RNA">RNA</a> chains began to express the basic conditions necessary for natural selection to operate as conceived by <a href="/wiki/Charles_Darwin" title="Charles Darwin">Darwin</a>: heritability, variation of type, and competition for limited resources. <a href="/wiki/Fitness_(biology)" title="Fitness (biology)">Fitness</a> of an RNA replicator (its per capita rate of increase) would likely have been a function of adaptive capacities that were intrinsic (in the sense that they were determined by the nucleotide sequence) and the availability of resources.<sup id="cite_ref-Bernstein_7-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Bernstein-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-Michod_8-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Michod-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The three primary adaptive capacities may have been (1) the capacity to replicate with moderate fidelity (giving rise to both heritability and variation of type); (2) the capacity to avoid decay; and (3) the capacity to acquire and process resources.<sup id="cite_ref-Bernstein_7-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Bernstein-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-Michod_8-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Michod-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> These capacities would have been determined initially by the folded configurations of the RNA replicators (see "<a href="/wiki/Ribozyme" title="Ribozyme">Ribozyme</a>") that, in turn, would be encoded in their individual nucleotide sequences. Competitive success among different RNA replicators would have depended on the relative values of these adaptive capacities. Subsequently, among more recent organisms competitive success at successive levels of biological organisation, presumably continued to depend, in a broad sense, on the relative values of these adaptive capacities. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Fundamentals">Fundamentals</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Biological_organisation&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Fundamentals"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Empirically, a large proportion of the (complex) biological systems we observe in nature exhibit hierarchical structure. On theoretical grounds we could expect complex systems to be hierarchies in a world in which complexity had to evolve from simplicity. <a href="/wiki/Systems_theory" title="Systems theory">System</a> hierarchies analysis performed in the 1950s,<sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> laid the empirical foundations for a <a href="/wiki/Branches_of_science" title="Branches of science">field</a> that would be, from the 1980s, <b>hierarchical ecology</b>.<sup id="cite_ref-11" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-12" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-13" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-14" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-14"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-15" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-15"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>15<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The theoretical foundations are summarized by thermodynamics. When <a href="/wiki/Biological_systems" class="mw-redirect" title="Biological systems">biological systems</a> are modeled as <a href="/wiki/Physical_system" title="Physical system">physical systems</a>, in its most general abstraction, they are <a href="/wiki/Thermodynamic_system#Open_system" title="Thermodynamic system">thermodynamic open systems</a> that exhibit <a href="/wiki/Self-organization" title="Self-organization">self-organised</a> behavior,<sup id="cite_ref-16" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-16"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>16<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and the <a href="/wiki/Set_theory" title="Set theory">set/subset</a> relations between <a href="/wiki/Dissipative_structures" class="mw-redirect" title="Dissipative structures">dissipative structures</a> can be characterized in a hierarchy. </p><p>A simpler and more direct way to explain the fundamentals of the "hierarchical organisation of life", was introduced in <a href="/wiki/Ecology" title="Ecology">Ecology</a> by <a href="/wiki/Howard_T._Odum" title="Howard T. Odum">Odum</a> and others as the "<a href="/wiki/Herbert_A._Simon" title="Herbert A. Simon">Simon</a>'s hierarchical principle";<sup id="cite_ref-17" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-17"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>17<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Simon<sup id="cite_ref-18" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-18"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>18<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> emphasized that hierarchy "<i>emerges almost inevitably through a wide variety of evolutionary processes, for the simple reason that <u>hierarchical structures are stable</u></i>". </p><p>To motivate this deep idea, he offered his "parable" about imaginary watchmakers. </p> <dl><dd><table> <tbody><tr> <th>Parable of the Watchmakers </th></tr> <tr> <td> <p>There once were two watchmakers, named Hora and Tempus, who made very fine watches. The phones in their workshops rang frequently; new customers were constantly calling them. However, Hora prospered while Tempus became poorer and poorer. In the end, Tempus lost his shop. What was the reason behind this? </p><p>The watches consisted of about 1000 parts each. The watches that Tempus made were designed such that, when he had to put down a partly assembled watch (for instance, to answer the phone), it immediately fell into pieces and had to be reassembled from the basic elements. </p><p>Hora had designed his watches so that he could put together subassemblies of about ten components each. Ten of these subassemblies could be put together to make a larger sub-assembly. Finally, ten of the larger subassemblies constituted the whole watch. Each subassembly could be put down without falling apart. </p> </td></tr></tbody></table></dd></dl> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Biological_organisation&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1184024115">.mw-parser-output .div-col{margin-top:0.3em;column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .div-col-small{font-size:90%}.mw-parser-output .div-col-rules{column-rule:1px solid #aaa}.mw-parser-output .div-col dl,.mw-parser-output .div-col ol,.mw-parser-output .div-col ul{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .div-col li,.mw-parser-output .div-col dd{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}</style><div class="div-col"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Abiogenesis" title="Abiogenesis">Abiogenesis</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cell_theory" title="Cell theory">Cell theory</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cellular_differentiation" title="Cellular differentiation">Cellular differentiation</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Composition_of_the_human_body" title="Composition of the human body">Composition of the human body</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evolution_of_biological_complexity" title="Evolution of biological complexity">Evolution of biological complexity</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evolutionary_biology" title="Evolutionary biology">Evolutionary biology</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gaia_hypothesis" title="Gaia hypothesis">Gaia hypothesis</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hierarchy_theory" title="Hierarchy theory">Hierarchy theory</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Holon_(philosophy)" title="Holon (philosophy)">Holon (philosophy)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Human_ecology" title="Human ecology">Human ecology</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Level_of_analysis" title="Level of analysis">Level of analysis</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Living_systems" title="Living systems">Living systems</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Self-organization" title="Self-organization">Self-organization</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Spontaneous_order" title="Spontaneous order">Spontaneous order</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Structuralism_(biology)" title="Structuralism (biology)">Structuralism (biology)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Timeline_of_the_evolutionary_history_of_life" title="Timeline of the evolutionary history of life">Timeline of the evolutionary history of life</a></li></ul> </div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Notes">Notes</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Biological_organisation&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Notes"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist reflist-columns references-column-width" style="column-width: 30em;"> <ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-Solomon_intro-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Solomon_intro_1-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Solomon_intro_1-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSolomonBergMartin2002">Solomon, Berg & Martin 2002</a>, pp. 9–10</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFPavé2006">Pavé 2006</a>, p. 40</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Huggett1999-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Huggett1999_3-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFHuggett1999">Huggett 1999</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFPavé2006">Pavé 2006</a>, p. 39</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-5">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFPostlethwaitHopson2006">Postlethwait & Hopson 2006</a>, p. 7</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-6">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite id="CITEREFWitzany2014" class="citation journal cs1">Witzany, G (2014). "Biological Self-organization". <i>International Journal of Signs and Semiotic Systems</i>. <b>3</b> (2): 1–11. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.4018%2FIJSSS.2014070101">10.4018/IJSSS.2014070101</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=International+Journal+of+Signs+and+Semiotic+Systems&rft.atitle=Biological+Self-organization&rft.volume=3&rft.issue=2&rft.pages=1-11&rft.date=2014&rft_id=info%3Adoi%2F10.4018%2FIJSSS.2014070101&rft.aulast=Witzany&rft.aufirst=G&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABiological+organisation" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Bernstein-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Bernstein_7-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Bernstein_7-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFBernsteinByerlyHopfMichod1983" class="citation journal cs1">Bernstein, H; Byerly, HC; Hopf, FA; Michod, RA; Vemulapalli, GK (1983). "The Darwinian Dynamic". <i>Quarterly Review of Biology</i>. <b>58</b> (2): 185–207. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1086%2F413216">10.1086/413216</a>. <a href="/wiki/JSTOR_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="JSTOR (identifier)">JSTOR</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/2828805">2828805</a>. <a href="/wiki/S2CID_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="S2CID (identifier)">S2CID</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:83956410">83956410</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Quarterly+Review+of+Biology&rft.atitle=The+Darwinian+Dynamic&rft.volume=58&rft.issue=2&rft.pages=185-207&rft.date=1983&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.semanticscholar.org%2FCorpusID%3A83956410%23id-name%3DS2CID&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jstor.org%2Fstable%2F2828805%23id-name%3DJSTOR&rft_id=info%3Adoi%2F10.1086%2F413216&rft.aulast=Bernstein&rft.aufirst=H&rft.au=Byerly%2C+HC&rft.au=Hopf%2C+FA&rft.au=Michod%2C+RA&rft.au=Vemulapalli%2C+GK&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABiological+organisation" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Michod-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Michod_8-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Michod_8-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">Michod RE. (2000) Darwinian Dynamics: Evolutionary Transitions in Fitness and Individuality. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0691050112" title="Special:BookSources/0691050112">0691050112</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-9">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFEvans1951">Evans 1951</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-10"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-10">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFEvans1956">Evans 1956</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-11"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-11">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFMargalef1975">Margalef 1975</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-12"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-12">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFO'Neill1986">O'Neill 1986</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-13"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-13">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFWickenUlanowicz1988">Wicken & Ulanowicz 1988</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-14"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-14">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFPumain2006">Pumain 2006</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-15"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-15">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFJordanJørgensen2012">Jordan & Jørgensen 2012</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-16"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-16">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFPokrovskii2020" class="citation book cs1">Pokrovskii, Vladimir (2020). <i>Thermodynamics of Complex Systems: Principles and applications</i>. IOP Publishing, Bristol, UK.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Thermodynamics+of+Complex+Systems%3A+Principles+and+applications.&rft.pub=IOP+Publishing%2C+Bristol%2C+UK.&rft.date=2020&rft.aulast=Pokrovskii&rft.aufirst=Vladimir&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABiological+organisation" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-17"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-17">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFSimon1969">Simon 1969</a>, pp. 192–229</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-18"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-18">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Simon's texts at <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1207%2FS15327809JLS1203_4">10.1207/S15327809JLS1203_4</a>, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://polaris.gseis.ucla.edu/pagre/simon.html">polaris.gseis.ucla.edu/pagre/simon</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150705161014/http://polaris.gseis.ucla.edu/pagre/simon.html">Archived</a> July 5, 2015, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a> or <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://johncarlosbaez.wordpress.com/2011/08/29/hierarchical-organization-and-biological-evolution-part-1/">johncarlosbaez/2011/08/29 transcriptions</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150531145800/https://johncarlosbaez.wordpress.com/2011/08/29/hierarchical-organization-and-biological-evolution-part-1/">Archived</a> 2015-05-31 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a></span> </li> </ol></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="References">References</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Biological_organisation&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFEvans1951" class="citation cs2">Evans, F. C. (1951), "Ecology and urban areal research", <i>Scientific Monthly</i> (73)</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Scientific+Monthly&rft.atitle=Ecology+and+urban+areal+research&rft.issue=73&rft.date=1951&rft.aulast=Evans&rft.aufirst=F.+C.&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABiological+organisation" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFEvans1956" class="citation cs2">Evans, F. C. 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J. (1999). "Ecosphere, biosphere, or Gaia? What to call the global ecosystem. 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(1975), "External factors and ecosystem stability", <i>Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Hydrologie</i>, <b>37</b> (1): 102–117, <a href="/wiki/Bibcode_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Bibcode (identifier)">Bibcode</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1975AqSci..37..102M">1975AqSci..37..102M</a>, <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1007%2FBF02505181">10.1007/BF02505181</a>, <a href="/wiki/Hdl_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Hdl (identifier)">hdl</a>:<span class="id-lock-free" title="Freely accessible"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://hdl.handle.net/10261%2F337692">10261/337692</a></span>, <a href="/wiki/S2CID_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="S2CID (identifier)">S2CID</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:20521602">20521602</a></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Schweizerische+Zeitschrift+f%C3%BCr+Hydrologie&rft.atitle=External+factors+and+ecosystem+stability&rft.volume=37&rft.issue=1&rft.pages=102-117&rft.date=1975&rft_id=info%3Ahdl%2F10261%2F337692&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.semanticscholar.org%2FCorpusID%3A20521602%23id-name%3DS2CID&rft_id=info%3Adoi%2F10.1007%2FBF02505181&rft_id=info%3Abibcode%2F1975AqSci..37..102M&rft.aulast=Margalef&rft.aufirst=R.&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABiological+organisation" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFO'Neill1986" class="citation cs2">O'Neill, R. 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(1986), <span class="id-lock-registration" title="Free registration required"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/hierarchicalconc00onei"><i>A Hierarchical Concept of Ecosystems</i></a></span>, <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0691084378" title="Special:BookSources/0691084378"><bdi>0691084378</bdi></a></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=A+Hierarchical+Concept+of+Ecosystems&rft.date=1986&rft.isbn=0691084378&rft.aulast=O%27Neill&rft.aufirst=R.+V.&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.org%2Fdetails%2Fhierarchicalconc00onei&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABiological+organisation" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFPavé2006" class="citation cs2">Pavé, Alain (2006), "Biological and Ecological Systems Hierarchical organization", in Pumain, D. (ed.), <i>Hierarchy in Natural and Social Sciences</i>, <a href="/wiki/New_York,_New_York" class="mw-redirect" title="New York, New York">New York, New York</a>: <a href="/wiki/Springer-Verlag" class="mw-redirect" title="Springer-Verlag">Springer-Verlag</a>, <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-4020-4126-6" title="Special:BookSources/978-1-4020-4126-6"><bdi>978-1-4020-4126-6</bdi></a></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=bookitem&rft.atitle=Biological+and+Ecological+Systems+Hierarchical+organization&rft.btitle=Hierarchy+in+Natural+and+Social+Sciences&rft.place=New+York%2C+New+York&rft.pub=Springer-Verlag&rft.date=2006&rft.isbn=978-1-4020-4126-6&rft.aulast=Pav%C3%A9&rft.aufirst=Alain&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABiological+organisation" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFPostlethwaitHopson2006" class="citation cs2">Postlethwait, John H.; Hopson, Janet L. (2006), <i>Modern Biology</i>, <a href="/wiki/Holt,_Rinehart_and_Winston" class="mw-redirect" title="Holt, Rinehart and Winston">Holt, Rinehart and Winston</a>, <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-03-065178-6" title="Special:BookSources/0-03-065178-6"><bdi>0-03-065178-6</bdi></a></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Modern+Biology&rft.pub=Holt%2C+Rinehart+and+Winston&rft.date=2006&rft.isbn=0-03-065178-6&rft.aulast=Postlethwait&rft.aufirst=John+H.&rft.au=Hopson%2C+Janet+L.&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABiological+organisation" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFPumain2006" class="citation cs2">Pumain, D. (2006), <i>Hierarchy in Natural and Social Sciences</i>, <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-4020-4127-3" title="Special:BookSources/978-1-4020-4127-3"><bdi>978-1-4020-4127-3</bdi></a></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Hierarchy+in+Natural+and+Social+Sciences&rft.date=2006&rft.isbn=978-1-4020-4127-3&rft.aulast=Pumain&rft.aufirst=D.&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABiological+organisation" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFSimon1969" class="citation cs2">Simon, H. A. (1969), "The architecture of complexity", <i>The Sciences of the Artificial</i>, <a href="/wiki/Cambridge,_Massachusetts" title="Cambridge, Massachusetts">Cambridge</a>, Massachusetts: <a href="/wiki/MIT_Press" title="MIT Press">MIT Press</a></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=bookitem&rft.atitle=The+architecture+of+complexity&rft.btitle=The+Sciences+of+the+Artificial&rft.place=Cambridge%2C+Massachusetts&rft.pub=MIT+Press&rft.date=1969&rft.aulast=Simon&rft.aufirst=H.+A.&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABiological+organisation" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFSolomonBergMartin2002" class="citation cs2">Solomon, Eldra P.; Berg, Linda R.; Martin, Diana W. (2002), <i>Biology</i> (6th ed.), <a href="/wiki/Brooks/Cole" class="mw-redirect" title="Brooks/Cole">Brooks/Cole</a>, <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-534-39175-3" title="Special:BookSources/0-534-39175-3"><bdi>0-534-39175-3</bdi></a>, <a href="/wiki/LCCN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="LCCN (identifier)">LCCN</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://lccn.loc.gov/2001095366">2001095366</a></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Biology&rft.edition=6th&rft.pub=Brooks%2FCole&rft.date=2002&rft_id=info%3Alccn%2F2001095366&rft.isbn=0-534-39175-3&rft.aulast=Solomon&rft.aufirst=Eldra+P.&rft.au=Berg%2C+Linda+R.&rft.au=Martin%2C+Diana+W.&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABiological+organisation" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFWickenUlanowicz1988" class="citation cs2">Wicken, J. S.; Ulanowicz, R. E. (1988), "On quantifying hierarchical connections in ecology", <i>Journal of Social and Biological Systems</i>, <b>11</b> (3): 369–377, <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1016%2F0140-1750%2888%2990066-8">10.1016/0140-1750(88)90066-8</a></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Journal+of+Social+and+Biological+Systems&rft.atitle=On+quantifying+hierarchical+connections+in+ecology&rft.volume=11&rft.issue=3&rft.pages=369-377&rft.date=1988&rft_id=info%3Adoi%2F10.1016%2F0140-1750%2888%2990066-8&rft.aulast=Wicken&rft.aufirst=J.+S.&rft.au=Ulanowicz%2C+R.+E.&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABiological+organisation" class="Z3988"></span></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Biological_organisation&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: External links"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Wikibooks-logo-en-noslogan.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/df/Wikibooks-logo-en-noslogan.svg/16px-Wikibooks-logo-en-noslogan.svg.png" decoding="async" width="16" height="16" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/df/Wikibooks-logo-en-noslogan.svg/24px-Wikibooks-logo-en-noslogan.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/df/Wikibooks-logo-en-noslogan.svg/32px-Wikibooks-logo-en-noslogan.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="400" data-file-height="400" /></a></span> <a href="https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Human_Physiology/Cell_physiology" class="extiw" title="b:Human Physiology/Cell physiology">Cell physiology</a> (in <i><a href="https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Human_Physiology" class="extiw" title="b:Human Physiology">Human Physiology</a></i>) at Wikibooks</li> <li><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Wikibooks-logo-en-noslogan.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/df/Wikibooks-logo-en-noslogan.svg/16px-Wikibooks-logo-en-noslogan.svg.png" decoding="async" width="16" height="16" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/df/Wikibooks-logo-en-noslogan.svg/24px-Wikibooks-logo-en-noslogan.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/df/Wikibooks-logo-en-noslogan.svg/32px-Wikibooks-logo-en-noslogan.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="400" data-file-height="400" /></a></span> <a href="https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/General_Biology/Getting_Started/Introduction#Characteristics_of_life" class="extiw" title="b:General Biology/Getting Started/Introduction">Characteristics of life</a> and <a href="https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/General_Biology/Getting_Started/Matter#The_Nature_of_Molecules" class="extiw" title="b:General Biology/Getting Started/Matter">the nature of molecules</a> (in <i><a href="https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/General_Biology" class="extiw" title="b:General Biology">General Biology</a></i>) at Wikibooks</li> <li><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Wikibooks-logo-en-noslogan.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/df/Wikibooks-logo-en-noslogan.svg/16px-Wikibooks-logo-en-noslogan.svg.png" decoding="async" width="16" height="16" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/df/Wikibooks-logo-en-noslogan.svg/24px-Wikibooks-logo-en-noslogan.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/df/Wikibooks-logo-en-noslogan.svg/32px-Wikibooks-logo-en-noslogan.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="400" data-file-height="400" /></a></span> <a href="https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Ecology/Biosphere_organization" class="extiw" title="b:Ecology/Biosphere organization">organization within the biosphere</a> (in <i><a href="https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Ecology" class="extiw" title="b:Ecology">Ecology</a></i>) at Wikibooks</li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20111015234223/http://johncarlosbaez.wordpress.com/2011/08/29/hierarchical-organization-and-biological-evolution-part-1/">2011's theoretical/mathematical discussion</a>.</li></ul> <div class="navbox-styles"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1129693374">.mw-parser-output .hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul{margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt,.mw-parser-output .hlist li{margin:0;display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline 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title="Organism">Organism</a> > <a href="/wiki/Biological_system" title="Biological system">Organ system</a> > <a href="/wiki/Organ_(biology)" title="Organ (biology)">Organ</a> > <a href="/wiki/Tissue_(biology)" title="Tissue (biology)">Tissue</a> > <a href="/wiki/Cell_(biology)" title="Cell (biology)">Cell</a> > <a href="/wiki/Organelle" title="Organelle">Organelle</a> > <a href="/wiki/Macromolecular_assembly" title="Macromolecular assembly">Biomolecular complex</a> > <a href="/wiki/Macromolecule" title="Macromolecule">Macromolecule</a> > <a href="/wiki/Biomolecule" title="Biomolecule">Biomolecule</a></span></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236075235"></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="Elements_of_nature" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks hlist mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Nature" title="Template:Nature"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Nature" title="Template talk:Nature"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Nature" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Nature"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Elements_of_nature" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">Elements of <a href="/wiki/Nature" title="Nature">nature</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Universe" title="Universe">Universe</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Space" title="Space">Space</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Time" title="Time">Time</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Energy" title="Energy">Energy</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Matter" title="Matter">Matter</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Particle" title="Particle">particles</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Chemical_element" title="Chemical element">chemical elements</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Calculus" title="Calculus">Change</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Earth" title="Earth">Earth</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Earth_science" title="Earth science">Earth science</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/History_of_Earth" title="History of Earth">History</a> (<a href="/wiki/Geological_history_of_Earth" title="Geological history of Earth">geological</a>)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Internal_structure_of_Earth" title="Internal structure of Earth">Structure</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Geology" title="Geology">Geology</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Plate_tectonics" title="Plate tectonics">Plate tectonics</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ocean" title="Ocean">Oceans</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gaia_hypothesis" title="Gaia hypothesis">Gaia hypothesis</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Future_of_Earth" title="Future of Earth">Future</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Weather" title="Weather">Weather</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Meteorology" title="Meteorology">Meteorology</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Atmosphere_of_Earth" title="Atmosphere of Earth">Atmosphere <span style="font-size:85%;">(Earth)</span></a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Climate" title="Climate">Climate</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cloud" title="Cloud">Clouds</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Moonlight" title="Moonlight">Moonlight</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rain" title="Rain">Rain</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Snow" title="Snow">Snow</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sunlight" title="Sunlight">Sunlight</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tide" title="Tide">Tides</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wind" title="Wind">Wind</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Tornado" title="Tornado">tornado</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tropical_cyclone" title="Tropical cyclone">tropical cyclone</a></li></ul></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Natural_environment" title="Natural environment">Natural environment</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Ecology" title="Ecology">Ecology</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ecosystem" title="Ecosystem">Ecosystem</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Field_(physics)" title="Field (physics)">Field</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Radiation" title="Radiation">Radiation</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wilderness" title="Wilderness">Wilderness</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wildfire" title="Wildfire">Wildfires</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Life" title="Life">Life</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Abiogenesis" title="Abiogenesis">Origin <span 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