What term refers to the top rung of the structural ladder?
Responses:
a) the molecular level
b) the cardiovascular system
c) the whole organism
d) epithelial tissue
c) the whole organism
d) epithelial tissue
The term that refers to the top rung of the structural ladder is the whole organism (c).
To arrive at this answer, we need to understand the hierarchy of biological organization. Several levels of organization exist in biology, starting from the smallest units to the largest. This hierarchy can be visualized as a ladder, with each rung representing a different level of complexity.
The molecular level (a) represents the lowest rung of this ladder. It refers to the study of individual molecules, such as atoms and compounds, and their interactions.
The cardiovascular system (b) refers to a specific organ system in the body. While it is an important part of the whole organism, it is not the top rung of the ladder as it represents a smaller component within the larger organism.
Epithelial tissue (d) is a type of tissue that lines the surfaces of organs, glands, and cavities throughout the body. It is a level of organization within the body, but it is still a smaller component than the whole organism.
Therefore, the correct answer is (c) the whole organism, as it represents the highest level of organization in the structural ladder. The whole organism encompasses all the different organ systems, tissues, and molecules that work together to create a living being.