Biological system: the essence of the concept and the main characteristics

The biological system is a collectionelements that are connected and dependent on each other, forming a single whole, perform certain functions, and also interact with the environment or other elements and systems.

The main functional elements of biologicalsystems have different levels of organization and the corresponding classification. Among them one can name both individual molecules and cells, tissues and organs, and whole organisms, their populations and even the whole ecosystem. All these elements, beginning with the organismic level, are able to exist independently, forming the corresponding levels of evolution, the highest manifestation of which is the biospheric rank.

It must be said that every biological system, despite the various constituent elements, is characterized by the following features:

• performs the relevant functions;
• it has a certain integrity;
• consists of separate subsystems;
• is adaptable, which is the corresponding change in response to various environmental impacts;
• in addition, the biological system is characterized byrelative stability and ability to develop, constant regeneration of damaged components, as well as to full or partial renewal and self-repair.

Relatively homogeneous biological systemis the level of organization of the living, for which the corresponding type of interaction of elements is characteristic, as well as the spatial and temporal criteria of the processes that occur in it.

The concept of different levels of organizationmatter spread in the middle of the 20th century. It includes the differentiation of all life on the planet into separate discrete and interconnected structural groups.

It should be noted that the biological systemcharacterized by the principle of hierarchy - different levels of organization form a specific pyramid, in which each level follows the next higher level. At the same time, all levels of the organization interact and influence each other.

Since ancient times biologicalsystematics is a discipline, the purpose of which is the development of separate principles for the classification of all living organisms that can be used in the construction of biological systems.

To date, the classification of plants andanimals is carried out according to the principle of hierarchy mentioned above: individual individuals - species that combine into genera, - family - order or unit - classes that form the corresponding departments, - types that are part of the kingdoms. Thus, a particular plant or animal should refer to each of these seven classification categories.

A new term is the term "superkingdom" or a biological domain. Behind it, each biological system is also classified into the super-kingdoms of eukaryotes, bacteria or archaea.

It should be noted that biological systemsthere is a certain peculiarity: living organisms are connected not only with each other, but with the environment, which is manifested in the general exchange of energy, substances and information. Life without such interaction is impossible.