The Organism May 2026

Create new individual organisms (sexually or asexually).

Physical features like a turtle's shell or a cactus's spines.

This guide breaks down —the fundamental unit of life—from its basic building blocks to how it survives in a complex world. 1. What Defines an Organism? The Organism

No organism exists in a vacuum. They are part of an :

Autotrophs (make their own food via photosynthesis). Create new individual organisms (sexually or asexually)

Scientists categorize every organism into three primary domains:

Different tissues working for a specific function (e.g., the heart). The Organism

Heterotrophs (must eat other organisms for energy). 4. Survival Mechanisms