Organism
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| - | #REDIRECT [[Living things]] | + | [[Image:Ernst Haeckel's Artforms of Nature of 1904.jpg|thumb|left|200px|''[[Artforms of Nature]]'' ([[1904]]) by [[Ernst Haeckel]]]] |
| + | [[Image:Les champignons considérés (1884) - Lucien-Marie Gautier.jpg|thumb|right|200px|''Les champignons considérés'' ([[1884]]) - [[Lucien-Marie Gautier]]]] | ||
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| + | In [[biology]], an '''organism''' is any [[contiguous]] [[life|living]] [[system]] (such as [[animal]], [[fungus]], [[micro-organism]], or [[plant]]). In at least some form, all types of organisms are capable of [[Stimulus (psychology)|response]] to [[stimulus (physiology)|stimuli]], [[reproduction]], growth and [[developmental biology|development]], and maintenance of [[homeostasis]] as a stable whole. | ||
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| + | An organism may either be [[unicellular]] (a single cell) or, as in the case of humans, comprise many trillions of [[cell (biology)|cells]] grouped into specialized [[tissue (biology)|tissues]] and [[organs]]. The term ''[[multicellular]]'' (many cells) describes any organism made up of more than one cell. | ||
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| + | [[Scientific classification]] in biology considers organisms synonymous with '''life on Earth'''. Based on cell type, organisms may be divided into the [[prokaryote|prokaryotic]] and [[eukaryote|eukaryotic]] groups. The prokaryotes represent two separate [[three-domain system|domains]], the [[Bacteria]] and [[Archaea]]. Eukaryotic organisms, with a membrane-bounded [[cell nucleus]], also contain [[organelle]]s, namely [[mitochondria]] and (in plants) [[plastid]]s, generally considered to be derived from [[endosymbiotic theory|endosymbiotic]] bacteria. [[Fungi]], [[animals]] and [[plants]] are examples of [[species]] that are eukaryotes. | ||
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| + | In 2002 [[Thomas Cavalier-Smith]] proposed a [[clade]], [[Neomura]], which groups together the [[Archaea]] and [[Eukarya]]. Neomura is thought to have evolved from [[Bacteria]], more specifically from [[Actinobacteria]]. See ''[[Branching order of bacterial phyla (Cavalier-Smith, 2002)|Branching order of bacterial phyla]]''. | ||
| + | ==See also== | ||
| + | * [[Largest organisms]] | ||
| + | * [[List of long-living organisms]] | ||
| + | * [[List of organisms by chromosome count]] | ||
| + | * [[Lists of animals]] | ||
| + | * [[Lists of extinct animals]] | ||
| + | * [[Smallest organisms]] | ||
| + | * [[The world's 100 most threatened species]] | ||
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| + | {{GFDL}} | ||
Revision as of 11:46, 14 May 2017
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In biology, an organism is any contiguous living system (such as animal, fungus, micro-organism, or plant). In at least some form, all types of organisms are capable of response to stimuli, reproduction, growth and development, and maintenance of homeostasis as a stable whole.
An organism may either be unicellular (a single cell) or, as in the case of humans, comprise many trillions of cells grouped into specialized tissues and organs. The term multicellular (many cells) describes any organism made up of more than one cell.
Scientific classification in biology considers organisms synonymous with life on Earth. Based on cell type, organisms may be divided into the prokaryotic and eukaryotic groups. The prokaryotes represent two separate domains, the Bacteria and Archaea. Eukaryotic organisms, with a membrane-bounded cell nucleus, also contain organelles, namely mitochondria and (in plants) plastids, generally considered to be derived from endosymbiotic bacteria. Fungi, animals and plants are examples of species that are eukaryotes.
In 2002 Thomas Cavalier-Smith proposed a clade, Neomura, which groups together the Archaea and Eukarya. Neomura is thought to have evolved from Bacteria, more specifically from Actinobacteria. See Branching order of bacterial phyla.
See also
- Largest organisms
- List of long-living organisms
- List of organisms by chromosome count
- Lists of animals
- Lists of extinct animals
- Smallest organisms
- The world's 100 most threatened species
