MEDICAL BIOLOGY, HUMAN ANATOMY, PHYSIOLOGY AND PATHOLOGY - Ya.I. Fedoniuk 2010
BIOLOGY
SECTION 1. BIOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF HUMAN VITAL ACTIVITY
1.1. GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE
Levels of biological organization
In living nature, the following evolutionarily determined Levels of Organization are distinguished: molecular-genetic, cellular, ontogenetic (organismic), population-species, biogeocenotic, and biosphere. Each of these levels features an elementary unit and an elementary phenomenon (Table 1.1).
Class="center">Table 1.1. Levels of biological organization
No. |
Levels |
Elementary unit |
Elementary phenomenon |
1 |
Molecular-genetic |
Convariant reduplication (duplication of the DNA molecule with potential gene alterations, i.e., errors) |
|
2 |
Cellular |
Cellular METABOLISM reactions |
|
3 |
Ontogenetic (organismic) |
Regular changes during individual development |
|
4 |
Population-species |
Population |
Stable Changes in the gene pool of the population |
5 |
Biogeocenotic and biosphere |
Biogeocenosis |
Cycling of matter and energy within the biogeocenosis |
The levels of biological organization are interconnected through a hierarchical principle. A lower-level system is invariably incorporated into a higher-order level. THE CONCEPT OF evolutionarily established levels, on the one hand, divides living nature into discrete (separate) units, and on the other hand, emphasizes its integrity and unity. Knowledge of the levels of biological organization is essential for pharmacists to elucidate the mechanisms of drug action on The Human Body across various levels of organization: molecular-genetic, cellular, organismic, and population-species.
Last update: 08/08/2026
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