A biosystem is a complex web of biologically relevant organizations, from global to subatomic. This conceptual illustration reflects the multiple nesting systems in nature - populations of organisms, organs and tissues. On the micro- and nanoscale, examples of biological systems are cells, organelles, macromolecular complexes, and regulatory pathways.
Organism as a biosystem
In biology, an organism is any adjacent living system along with animals, plants, fungi, protists, or bacteria. All known types of beings on Earth are capable of responding to stimuli to some extent, reproducing, growing, evolving, and self-regulating (homeostasis).
An organism as a biosystem consists of one or more cells. Most single-celled organisms are on a microscopic scale and therefore belong to microorganisms. Humans are multicellular organisms made up of many trillions of cells grouped into specialized tissues and organs.
Many and diverse biological systems
Estimates of the number of modern Earth species range from 10 to 14 million, of which only about 1.2 million have been officially documented.
The term "organism" is directly related to the term "organization". The following definition can be given: it is an assembly of molecules functioning as a more or less stable whole, which exhibits the properties of life. An organism as a biosystem is any living structure, such as a plant, animal, fungus, or bacteria, that is capable of growing and reproducing. Viruses and possible anthropogenic inorganic life forms are excluded from this category because they depend on the biochemical machinery of the host cell.
The human body as a biosystem
The human body can also be called a biosystem. It is the totality of all organs. Our bodies are made up of a number of biological systems that perform specific functions necessary for daily life.
- The work of the circulatory system is to move blood, nutrients, oxygen, carbon dioxide and hormones through organs and tissues. It is made up of the heart, blood, blood vessels, arteries and veins.
- The digestive system is made up of a series of interconnected organs that together enable the body to absorb and digest food, as well as eliminate waste. It includes the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum, and anus. Liver and pancreasalso play an important role in the digestive system because they produce digestive juices.
- The endocrine system is made up of eight major glands that secrete hormones into the blood. These hormones, in turn, travel to different tissues and regulate various bodily functions.
- The immune system is the body's defense against bacteria, viruses and other harmful pathogens. It includes lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow, lymphocytes, and white blood cells.
- The lymphatic system includes lymph nodes, ducts and blood vessels, and also plays a role as the body's defenses. Its main job is to form and move lymph, a clear fluid containing white blood cells that help the body fight infection. The lymphatic system also removes excess lymph fluid from bodily tissues and returns it to the blood.
- The nervous system controls both voluntary (eg conscious movement) and involuntary actions (eg breathing) and sends signals to various parts of the body. The central nervous system includes the brain and spinal cord. The peripheral nervous system is made up of nerves that connect every part of the body to the central nervous system.
- The body's muscular system is made up of about 650 muscles that aid in movement, circulation, and a number of other physical functions.
- The reproductive system allows people to reproduce. The male reproductive system includes the penis and testicles, whichproduce sperm. The female reproductive system consists of the vagina, uterus, and ovaries. During conception, sperm fuse with an egg, which creates a fertilized egg that grows in the uterus.
- Our bodies are supported by a skeletal system made up of 206 bones that are connected by tendons, ligaments and cartilage. The skeleton not only helps us move, but is also involved in the production of blood cells and the storage of calcium. Teeth are also part of the skeletal system, but they are not considered bones.
- The respiratory system allows vital oxygen to be taken in and carbon dioxide to be removed in a process we call respiration. It consists mainly of the trachea, diaphragm and lungs.
- The urinary system helps eliminate a waste product called urea from the body. It consists of two kidneys, two ureters, bladder, two sphincter muscles and an urethra. Urine produced by the kidneys travels down the ureters to the bladder and exits the body through the urethra.
- Skin is the largest organ of the human body. It protects us from the outside world, bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens, and helps regulate body temperature and eliminate waste through sweat. In addition to the skin, the integumentary system includes hair and nails.
Vital Organs
People have five vital organs that are essential for survival. These are the brain, heart, kidneys, liver and lungs.
- The human brain is the control center of the body, receiving and transmittingsignals to other organs through the nervous system and through secreted hormones. It is responsible for our thoughts, feelings, memory and general perception of the world.
- The human heart is responsible for pumping blood throughout our body.
- The job of the kidneys is to remove waste and extra fluid from the blood.
- The liver has many functions, including detoxifying harmful chemicals, breaking down drugs, filtering the blood, secreting bile, and producing proteins for blood clotting.
- The lungs are responsible for removing oxygen from the air we breathe and transporting it to our blood, where it can be sent to our cells. The lungs also remove the carbon dioxide we exhale.
Fun Facts
- The human body contains about 100 trillion cells.
- The average adult takes over 20,000 breaths a day.
- Each day, the kidneys process about 200 quarts (50 gallons) of blood to filter out about 2 quarts of waste and water.
- Adults excrete about a quarter and a half (1.42 liters) of urine every day.
- The human brain contains about 100 billion nerve cells.
- Water makes up more than 50 percent of an adult's body weight.
Why is an organism called a biosystem?
A living organism is a certain organization of living matter. It is a biosystem, which, like any other system, includesinterconnected elements, such as molecules, cells, tissues, organs. Everything in this world consists of something, a certain hierarchy is also characteristic of a living organism. This means that cells are made of molecules, tissues are made of cells, organs are made of tissues, and organ systems are made of organs. The properties of biosystems also include emergence, which means the appearance of qualitatively new characteristics that are present when elements are combined and absent at previous levels.
Cell as a biosystem
One single cell can also be called a complete biosystem. This is an elementary unit that has its own structure and its own metabolism. It is able to exist independently, reproduce its own kind and develop according to its own laws. Biology has a whole section dedicated to its study called cytology or cell biology.
A cell is an elementary living system that includes individual components that have specific features and perform their functional duties.
Complex system
A biosystem consists of the same type of living matter: from macromolecules and cells to population communities and ecosystems. It has the following levels of organization:
- gene level;
- cellular level;
- organs and organ systems;
- organisms and systems of organisms;
- populations and population systems;
- communities and ecosystems.
Biologicalcomponents of various levels of organization in a certain order interact with inanimate nature, energy and other abiotic components and substances. Depending on the scale, different systems are the subjects of study of different disciplines. Genetics deals with genes, cytology deals with cells. Organs are taken over by physiology. Organisms are studied by ichthyology, microbiology, ornithology, anthropology and so on.
