Systems and Scale Study Guide
Biology Mastery Series
SYSTEMS AND SCALE STUDY GUIDE
Part 1 Review: Match feedback loops, and order cellular & ecological levels from smallest to largest.
Name: ___________________
Date: ___________________
Period: ___________________
A1: Feedback Loops
6 Terms
___ 1. Feedback
___ 2. Homeostasis
___ 3. Response
___ 4. Stimulus
___ 5. Negative Feedback
___ 6. Positive Feedback
A. Any self-regulating loop adjusting output based on inputs, whether positive or negative.
B. Environmental change/signal triggering a reaction.
C. Action or behavioral shift caused by stimulus.
D. Maintaining a stable, balanced internal environment.
E. Loop counteracting change to restore setpoint (stop, don't do that anymore).
F. Loop amplifying change, driving system away from baseline (keep it up, that's the right change).
A2: Principles
5 Terms
___ 1. Structure
___ 2. Function
___ 3. System
___ 4. Cell Theory
___ 5. Specialization
A. Physical layout, shape, or design of a biological part.
B. Specific job, role, or activity that a part executes.
C. Group of interacting parts forming a complex whole.
D. Has 3 parts: all life is made of 1 or more cells, all life comes from existing cells, and cells are the basic unit of life.
E. Process where cells perform specific unique tasks, such as your heart cells becoming tissue and muscle specifically adapted to help your heart beat.
B1: Organismal Ordering
Smallest to Largest
Directions: Number the organismal structure levels from 1 (Smallest / Microscopic) to 6 (Largest).
Cell
Organelle
Tissue
Organ
Organ System
Organism
B2: Ecological Ordering
Smallest to Largest
Directions: Number the ecological systems levels from 1 (Smallest / Localized) to 5 (Largest / Global).
Population
Community
Ecosystem
Biome
Biosphere
Systems and Scale Matching Review • Student Worksheet Page 1 of 5
PART 2: BODY SYSTEMS & CELL ORGANELLES MATCHING
PART 2
A. Human Body System Functions
Directions: Match each organ system to its primary biological function. Write the matching letter in the blank space.
Group 1: Motor, Energy & Waste
___ 1. Skeletal System
___ 2. Muscular System
___ 3. Respiratory System
___ 4. Digestive System
___ 5. Urinary/Excretory System
A. Breaks down food, absorbs nutrients.
B. Exchanges vital gas (O₂/CO₂) with atmosphere.
C. Generates voluntary and involuntary movements of the body.
D. Structured rigid frame protecting interior organs.
E. Removes nitrogenous wastes from our blood, monitors fluids.
Group 2: Transport & Protection
___ 1. Reproductive System
___ 2. Integumentary System
___ 3. Endocrine System
___ 4. Immune System
___ 5. Circulatory System
___ 6. Nervous System
A. Coordination center, includes nerves and spinal cord.
B. Transports dissolved oxygen, nutrients, and wastes in blood.
C. Chemical coordination using hormone signals.
D. Fights and destroys invading pathogens.
E. Outer barrier (skin) resisting dehydration and pathogens (germs).
F. Makes gametes to create offspring.
B. Cell Organelle Functions
Directions: Match each cellular structure to its correct functional description. Write the matching letter on the line.
Group 1: Boundaries & Energy
___ 1. Cell Membrane
___ 2. Cell Wall
___ 3. Mitochondrion
___ 4. Vacuole
___ 5. Chloroplast
A. Semipermeable lipid layer regulating entry/exit.
B. Rigid outer layer giving plants structural support.
C. Changes glucose into ATP via aerobic respiration.
D. Fluid storage space; giant & central in plant cells.
E. Uses the sun's energy to create glucose and oxygen.
Group 2: Assembly & Shipping
___ 1. Lysosome
___ 2. Ribosome
___ 3. Nucleus
D 4. Smooth ER (SER)
___ 5. Rough ER (RER)
___ 6. Golgi apparatus (body)
A. Stores a cell's genetic genome (DNA).
B. Sorts, packages, tags, and routes proteins.
C. Contains enzymes to break down cellular waste.
D. Specializes in lipid synthesis & toxin breakdown.
E. Pathway with ribosomes traveling from the nucleus to the rest of the cell.
F. Create proteins, including enzymes and antibodies.
Systems and Scale Matching Review • Student Worksheet Page 2 of 5
PART 3 & 4: CONNECTIONS & SYSTEM COMPARISONS
PART 3 & 4
Part 3: Biological System Connections
Directions: Match each interaction description to the interacting biological systems, scales, or organelles.
Group 1: Scaling & Locomotion
___ 1. Organisms to Biosphere
___ 2. Cells to Whole Organisms
___ 3. Skeletal & Muscular Systems
___ 4. Digestive & Circulatory Systems
A. Cell → Tissue → Organ → Organ System → Organism.
B. Organism → Population → Community → Ecosystem → Biome → Biosphere.
C. Gut digests polymers; capillaries deliver monomers to cells.
D. Muscular contractions pull rigid bone levers across joints.
Group 2: Gaseous & Cell Exchange
___ 1. Respiratory & Circulatory
___ 2. Chloroplast & Mitochondria
___ 3. Nucleus & Ribosome
___ 4. Sweating Feedback Mechanism
A. DNA transcribes to mRNA, which ribosomes translate.
B. Chloroplast sugars are oxidized inside mitochondria to yield ATP.
C. Lungs exchange O₂ and CO₂ with blood vessels.
D. Brain triggers skin sweat; evaporation cools core temperature.
Part 4: System Comparisons Matching
Directions: Match each cellular or environmental comparison in the left column with its correct descriptive contrast in the right column.
___ 1. Unicellular vs. Multicellular
___ 2. Chloroplasts vs. Mitochondria
___ 3. Plant Cells vs. Animal Cells
___ 4. Eukaryotes vs. Prokaryotes
___ 5. Cell Walls vs. Cell Membranes
___ 6. Communities vs. Ecosystems
A. living biological populations vs. all living and non-living abiotic features.
B. no nucleus and circular loose DNA vs. a large membrane-bound nucleus and nucleolus.
C. Firm cellulose outer boundary vs flexible outer lipid layer that allows things in and out.
D. Captures light energy to build sugars vs. uses chemical sugars to release ATP.
E. Includes a large cell wall plus a large vacuole and chloroplasts vs. only a cell membrane as the outer layer
F. can do all active life functions independently vs. has many complex tissues that are specialized for very specific jobs
Systems and Scale Matching Review • Student Worksheet Page 3 of 5
PART 4B: CELL ANATOMY & DIAGRAM IDENTIFICATION
DIAGRAM REVIEW
Cell 1
Cell 2
Cell 3
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
Part 4C: Pointer Label Matching
Directions: Match the letters (A-I) to the correct cell organelle/boundary.
___ Cell Wall
___ Cell Membrane
___ Nucleus
___ Chloroplast
___ Mitochondrion
___ Central Vacuole
H___ Bacterial Flagellum
___ Ribosome (Animal Cell)
___ circular, loose DNA
Part 4D: Cell Types
Directions: Write PRO (Prokaryotic) or EUK (Eukaryotic) in the blanks.
______ Cell 1 (Left)
______ Cell 2 (Middle)
______ Cell 3 (Right)
Tip: Remember that membrane-bound nuclei and organelles define eukaryotes.
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DATA INTERPRETATION & ANALYSIS
PART 5
Dataset 1: Cellular Composition
Cell 1 (% Total Cell Mass)
Chloroplasts 20%
Cell Wall 15%
Mitochondria 5%
Cell Membrane 10%
DNA (Nucleus) 15%
Cell 2 (% Total Cell Mass)
Chloroplasts 0%
Cell Wall 0%
Mitochondria 25%
Cell Membrane 15%
DNA (Nucleus) 20%
1. Which statement is best supported by the cellular composition data?
A Cell 1 contains a greater percentage of DNA than Cell 2. B Cell 2 contains a greater percentage of mitochondria than Cell 1. C Cell 1 and Cell 2 contain the same percentage of cell membrane. D Cell 2 contains a greater percentage of chloroplasts than Cell 1.
2. A scientist claims Cell 1 is a plant cell and Cell 2 is an animal cell. Which evidence supports this conclusion?
A Cell 1 has chloroplasts & cell wall, which Cell 2 lacks. B Cell 1 contains DNA, while Cell 2 does not. C Cell 2 contains mitochondria, while Cell 1 does not. D Cell 2 contains a cell membrane, while Cell 1 does not.
3. Skeletal muscle cells contain ~3,800 mitochondria, while skin cells contain ~300. Which statement explains this?
A Skeletal muscle cells require more active energy than skin cells. B Skeletal muscle cells do not possess an active nucleus. C Skin cells are structurally unable to use mitochondrial energy. D Skin cells contain substantially more DNA than muscle cells.
4. A scientist discovers a new cell that requires vast metabolic energy. Which prediction is most reasonable?
A The cell would probably have a large density of mitochondria. B The cell would likely lack any active mitochondria. C The cell would have fewer mitochondria than skin cells. D The cell would survive without nucleolar DNA structure.
Dataset 2: Ribosome Distribution (x1,000 / cell)
Muscle
Pancreas
Skin
Liver
Rough ER Ribosomes
Free Ribosomes
5. Which conclusion is best supported by the ribosome data shown in the graph?
A Muscle cells have the highest RER ribosome levels to construct secreted proteins. B Pancreatic cells contain elevated RER ribosomes to manufacture large volumes of export-destined proteins. C Skin cells feature the most RER ribosomes because epidermal cells require the most energy. D Liver cells have more RER ribosomes because free ribosomes cannot produce proteins.
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