Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video
Multiple Choice
Which of the following statements is true regarding the complexity of biological systems?
A
The properties of a biological system can always be predicted by studying its individual components in isolation.
B
All biological systems are composed of a single level of organization.
C
Complexity in biological systems decreases as you move from molecules to ecosystems.
D
Biological systems exhibit emergent properties that arise from the interactions of their parts.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the concept of emergent properties: Emergent properties are characteristics of a system that arise from the interactions and relationships between its components, rather than being present in the individual components themselves. For example, the functioning of an organ like the heart cannot be fully understood by studying individual heart cells in isolation.
Analyze the first statement: 'The properties of a biological system can always be predicted by studying its individual components in isolation.' This is incorrect because emergent properties depend on the interactions between components, not just the components themselves.
Analyze the second statement: 'All biological systems are composed of a single level of organization.' This is incorrect because biological systems are hierarchical, with multiple levels of organization, such as molecules, cells, tissues, organs, organisms, populations, and ecosystems.
Analyze the third statement: 'Complexity in biological systems decreases as you move from molecules to ecosystems.' This is incorrect because complexity generally increases as you move up the levels of biological organization, with ecosystems being more complex than individual molecules.
Evaluate the final statement: 'Biological systems exhibit emergent properties that arise from the interactions of their parts.' This is correct because it accurately describes the concept of emergent properties, which are a fundamental characteristic of biological systems.