Hierarchy of Living Things

Biological organization, or the hierarchy of life, is the hierarchy of complex biological structures and system that define life using a reductionistic approach. The traditional hierarchy, as detailed below, extends from atoms (or lower) to biospheres. The higher levels of this scheme are often referred to as ecological organisation.
Each level in the hierarchy represents an increase in organizational complexity with each "object" being primarily composed of the previous level's basic unit. The basic principle behind the organisation is the concept of emergence—the properties and functions found at a hierarchical level are not present and irrelevant at the lower levels.
Organisation furthermore refers to the high degree of order of an organism (in comparison to general objects). Ideally, individual organisms of the same species have the same arrangement of the same structures. For example, the typical human has a torso with two legs at the bottom and two arms on the sides and a head on top. It is extremely rare (and usually impossible, due to physiological and biomechanical factors) to find a human that has all of these structures but in a different arrangement.

1. Atom- the basic unit of matter

2. Molecule- a grouping of atoms

3.Organelle-a functional grouping of biomolecules; biochemical reactions and interactions.

4. Cell- the basic unit of all living things and the grouping of organelles.

5. Tissue- grouping of cells

6. Organ- a group of tissues

7. Organ System- a group of organs which functions together.

 8. Organism- the basic living system, a functional grouping of the lower-level components, including at least one cell.

 9. Population- a grouping of organisms of the same species.

 10. Biocoenosis/Community- an interspecific grouping of populations.

 11. Ecosystem- a grouping of organisms from all biological domains in conjunction with the physical environment.

 12. Biosphere- the complete set of ecosystems.

-Angelo Ramos, II-Edison