Final answer:
All organisms consist of cells, which can be single-celled or multicellular. Functional specialization in multicellular organisms leads to tissues, organs, and organ systems.
Step-by-step explanation:
All organisms are highly organized, coordinated structures that consist of one or more cells. At the most fundamental level, organisms can be single-celled, like bacteria, or multicellular, like plants and animals.
A cell is the smallest unit of a living thing and is the basic building block of all organisms. In multicellular organisms, cells are specialized to perform specific functions which contribute to the organism's overall health and well-being.
Within a multicellular organism, similar cells form tissues, and these tissues collaborate to create organs, which then work together within organ systems. This organization allows multicellular organisms to perform complex tasks and adapt to their environment effectively.
In contrast, single-celled organisms perform all life functions within one cell, which, although simpler, is still remarkably complex at the molecular and biochemical levels.
Furthermore, cells follow three essential principles: all organisms are made of one or more cells, all life functions of organisms occur within cells, and all cells come from already existing cells. This is the foundation of cell theory, a crucial concept in biology.