Ohio Assessment for Educators (OAE) Integrated Science (024) Practice Exam

Which of the following describes the concept of "new properties" in biological hierarchy?

1. Properties that remain constant regardless of the complexity

2. Properties that arise due to arrangement and interactions of parts

3. Properties that are only visible in macro organisms

4. Properties that diminish with increased complexity

The correct answer is: Properties that arise due to arrangement and interactions of parts

The concept of "new properties" in the biological hierarchy refers to emergent properties, which are characteristics that arise when systems become more complex due to the arrangement and interactions of their components. As you move up the hierarchy from individual molecules to cells, tissues, organs, and entire organisms, new functions or attributes emerge that are not present at lower levels of organization. For instance, a single neuron does not exhibit consciousness, but when neurons are organized in a particular way as part of the brain, they give rise to perceptions, thoughts, and behaviors. This concept underscores the idea that the interactions between parts at one level can produce properties that are significantly different from those of the individual parts working in isolation. Each level of organization builds upon the previous one, leading to higher-order functions and characteristics that contribute to the complexity and diversity of living organisms.