Florida Biology EOC Practice Test 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The basic unit of life is the cell. Cells are the fundamental building blocks of all living organisms and serve as the smallest unit capable of carrying out the processes necessary for life. They can perform essential functions such as metabolism, growth, and reproduction.

Cells can exist as singular entities, as in unicellular organisms like bacteria, or can be part of complex multicellular organisms where they specialize into different types of tissues and organs. This specialization allows for division of labor among cells, contributing to the overall functioning of an organism.

Organisms are composed of groups of cells that work together to form tissues, which then combine to create organs. Systems, on the other hand, are higher-level groupings of organs that work together for a specific function, such as the digestive system or the circulatory system. Thus, while organs, tissues, and systems are all integral components of life, they stem from and depend on the cellular level as the foundational unit.