System n., plural: systems [zʏsˈteːm] Show Definition: A group of related or interdependent unified objects or components of a whole A system pertains to interdependent or interrelated objects comprising and functioning as a whole. In biology, it may refer to the biological or body systems. A biological system is a group of organs that work together to carry out a particular task. In humans, there are different biological systems that are comprised of biological organs with specific functions. Another biologically-relevant concept is the classification system, which is a collection of procedures, characteristics, and definitions used to classify and/or identify living things. What does a “system” mean? The word “system” is derived from the Latin word “systema”, which describes the relation between several working elements or units. Systems are built to produce one or more specific goals. In our daily life, we come in contact with various systems, such as the accounting system, the transportation system, the computer system, and so on. There are many ways to define a system; however, a common definition is that a system is an entity consisting of grouped components that are connected together according to a specific plan in order to achieve a certain outcome. Components of a system may be physical, coordinated steps, or multi-structure. Accordingly, a system must achieve the following criteria:
What is a simple definition of a system? We can define a system as a group of components or subsystems that integrate and function together in order to achieve a specific goal. For example, a disk subsystem is a component or part of a computer system. Any system has different system components starting with inputs that undergo processing in the system to produce outputs. Inputs and outputs represent the final goal of the system. Therefore, most systems are composed of many small systems or subsystems that may either be simple or complex components. Biological systems are a primary example. The human body is comprised of various biological systems. The digestive system, for instance, is a system made up of distinct organs (such as mouth, stomach, intestines, accessory organs, etc.) for a specific goal — to digest food. Biology definition: What is the synonym of a system? Another word for a system is a structure. Another system meaning is organization. It refers to the presence of different elements structurally organized together to serve as a whole (or a unit). Components of a General SystemA system has different components or subsystems. Each subsystem has its own inputs, outputs, components, and goals that altogether serve the main system in achieving an ultimate outcome. Inputs are elements used by several systems to obtain the final output. In general, inputs may be in the form of money, facilities, equipment, supplies, people, time, and ideas. For example, in the system with the desired outcome of training students, inputs will be children, trained teachers, training materials, papers, pencils, funding, and classrooms. In order to achieve the final outcome – which is to train children. Inputs might affect the quality of services and products since the cost of inputs identifies them and they influence the final outcome of the process. Outputs are results obtained from each system. They are produced as a result of the interaction of the system with inputs. Outputs are often calculated using numbers. Going back to the above example, the output of the training system can be calculated by the number of children who finished the training program. However, the number of outputs is not enough to assess the quality of outputs. Instead, The accomplishment of a certain goal should be the final assessment of the ultimate result we want to get from a system. These goals are usually described as missions, accomplishments, or purposes achieved by the system. A successful system ensures the integration and alignment among its different parts by exchanging information between its different components. Consequently, if any part of the system is not highly functioning or weakened, it is adjusted again to give the required outcome of the whole system. For example, if a tire of a moving car has a defect, the whole car will not perform its function properly. Types of systemsEven though there are many types of different systems, they share a common characteristic: all systems are composed of different elements that function together as a whole while maintaining their own identity. Systems may be natural such as ecological systems or artificial (made by man) such as computer systems. They may also be open or closed. Complex systems are usually open systems because they interact with their environment. Natural vs. artificial systemsSystems can either be natural or man-made. Natural systems do not usually show a distinct output. However, they are essential for life on earth. In contrast, man-made or artificial systems are designed to give a certain outcome using related elements that can achieve some actions serving the whole system. An artificial system design must be similar or close to other pre-existing systems to avoid system failure. Moreover, a slight modification to the system must be assessed and studied before application. All components of the system must be periodically evaluated to detect the system’s defects and ensure the production of the desired outcome. Below is a video comparing natural and artificial ecosystems as an example of contrasting systems found in nature and an artificial system (designed by humans). Open vs. closed vs. isolated systemsFigure 1: Different types of systems in relation to the surrounding environment. Credit: Alkh.Alwa – diagram, CC BY-SA 4.0.Another classification of a system describes systems as open, closed, or isolated. Open systems exchange energy and matter with the surrounding environment, such as boiling water in an uncovered pot. There is an exchange of heat and water vapor with the surrounding air. Closed systems exchange only energy with the environment, such as boiling the water in a tightly covered pot. It will exchange heat only but not water vapor. The isolated system does not exchange energy or matter with the surrounding environment. An example would be is a thermos containing hot water. There is no exchange of heat and water vapor between the air and the thermos. The hot water is contained; energy and matter inside the container (thermos) cannot escape and no energy or matter cannot enter through it, and thus the system is isolated. Figure 2: Open, closed, and isolated systems. Source: Maria Victoria Gonzaga of BiologyOnline.com.Living organisms represent an open system since they exchange both energy and matter with the environment. If a human breathes, he releases gases into the environment (matter) and releases heat (energy). Earth is an example of a closed system. Solar energy enters the Earth’s system but no Earth’s matter leaves the planet. They are cycled back to the Earth. Read: Carbon Cycle, The Water Cycle, Nitrogen Cycle. As for the isolated system, an example would be the universe. System ExamplesWhat is a system and what are the examples? A system is a structure composed of related components that serve in a group to give the final output. The Solar SystemThe solar system is the system in the universe where the Earth belongs. The mass of the solar system is found mainly in the sun followed by Jupiter. All planets of the solar system orbit in definite paths similar to discs. The solar system does not only contain the sun and planets but also small rocks, especially those found between Jupiter and Mars (called the asteroid belt). Let’s take a closer look at the Earth’s systems. Earth systemsThe Earth has four main types of systems: (1) geosphere (land system), (2) hydrosphere (water system), (3) atmosphere (air system), and (4) biosphere (life system). The geosphere represents the land and rocks. It forms the external surface and internal structure of the earth, which is made of rocks and minerals. The hydrosphere represents all the water present on the Earth’s surface including salty and freshwater. The major portion of the hydrosphere is saline water (96.5%), which some animals and humans cannot drink if not processed. About three-quarters of the freshwater on earth is found in the form of ice and water vapor while the remaining portion is present in rivers and lakes. The atmosphere is a mixture of gases including oxygen, nitrogen, and to a lesser extent water vapor, hydrogen, ozone, carbon dioxide, and argon. The atmosphere is essential for the existence of life. The atmospheric gases provide protection from the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun. It also keeps the temperature of the earth in a range suitable for life. Thus, it contributes to the survival of life on Earth. The biosphere is the living part of the Earth. It includes all living organisms — from unicellular bacteria, archaea, and protists, to multicellular fungi, plants, and animals. The geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere provide an ecosystem to various life forms on Earth. Earth’s systems are integrated together. They are overlapping so if one system is affected it affects other systems as well. For example, when air (atmosphere) is saturated with water particles (hydrosphere), it rains on the surface of the earth (geosphere). Raining or snowing may promote erosion of rocks where large rocks are broken down into smaller ones. Consequently, the shape of these large rocks or mountains is changed. On a larger scale, the interconnection between the Earth’s systems may cause natural phenomenons, such as tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, changes in the chemistry of some oceans, and alterations in the components of the atmosphere. The microbial diversity of the soil may also be altered through time. Human activities, in particular, impact the Earth systems. Burning fossil fuels, for example, causes greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide) to get trapped in the atmosphere. This contributes to global warming and climate change. Improper disposal of wastes has also been the primary factor of pollutions. Read: Pollution in Freshwater Ecosystems – Biology Online Tutorials Ecological systemsEcological systems or ecosystems are systems consisting of biotic and abiotic components that function together as a unit. Biotic components are the living organisms whereas the abiotic components include all the non-living components in a system. These living and non-living components are connected together by energy flows and nutrient cycles. Read: Freshwater Community Energy Relationships – Producers & Consumers Energy obtained from the sun enters the ecosystem through photosynthesis performed by different plants and algae. Animals feed on plants or on each other. Animals contribute to the flow of energy throughout the system. Moreover, they affect the number of plants and microbes in the system. Decomposers break down dead matter releasing its content in a simpler form in the soil and atmosphere to be used again by plants and microbes. Ecosystems are influenced by several internal and external factors. Internal factors are exemplified by shading, decomposition, and species present in the system. External factors, in turn, are exemplified by the various materials that form the soil and the atmosphere. For instance, climate affects the structure of an ecosystem by influencing the temperature and the extent of rainfall. It will therefore be a limiting factor as to which organisms can thrive and survive. It determines the availability of energy and water in an ecosystem. As such, it would have also an effect on photosynthesis and, subsequently, on the energy flow within the ecosystem. Apart from climate, another important factor is the materials with which the soil is formed as they will determine the abundance, and therefore, the availability, of minerals and nutrients. The abundance or shortage of one element of an ecosystem affects the other elements. For example, the availability of nutrients in an aquatic ecosystem affects the production of algae. Thus, it consequently affects the abundance of animals that use algae for nutrition. Ecosystems change constantly; they are exposed to continuous disturbance and recovery. Inputs of ecosystems are usually controlled by external factors such as the main material and climate while the availability of resources is controlled by internal factors. Biological systems (definition) are systems that are made up of different biological structures called organs. Organs differ in their actions and structures according to the desired outcome of each system. Examples of biological systems are the respiratory system, digestive system, and circulatory system. The human body consists of the following systems:
A biological system is a group of organs that work together to carry out a particular task. In humans, there are different biological systems. They are the integumentary system, lymphatic system, muscular system, nervous system, reproductive system, respiratory system, skeletal system, and urinary system. Each of these systems is comprised of biological organs that function for specific major functions. For instance, the human cardiovascular system whose primary role is to pump and channel blood to and from the body and lungs is comprised of heart, blood, and blood vessels. In a general sense, a system pertains to a group of related or interdependent unified components of a whole. Another biologically-relevant concept is the classification system. A classification system is a system for classifying organisms. It is a collection of procedures, characteristics, and definitions used to classify and/or identify, living things. As proposed by Carl Woese, living things are classified into three major domains: the Archaea, the Eubacteria (true bacteria), and the Eucarya (Eukarya). Below the domain are other major taxonomic ranks. These taxonomic ranks are kingdom, phyla, class, order, family, genus, and species. The branch of biology that studies the naming, arranging, classifying, and describing organisms into groups and levels is taxonomy. Both Domains Archaea and Eubacteria include prokaryotic organisms. They differ, however, in their genes and certain metabolic pathways. In essence, archaea although similarly prokaryotic as the bacteria possess genes that indicate that they are more closely related to eukaryotes than bacteria. Eukaryotes are organisms that belong to Domain Eucarya. Unlike prokaryotes, the eukaryotes have a nucleus and other organelles, such as mitochondria, Gogi apparatus, and endoplasmic reticulum, inside the cell. Within Domain Eucarya, the organisms are further classified into these groups: protists, fungi, plants, and animals. Protists are unicellular organisms although some of them may appear multicellular because they form colonies. Protozoans, algae, slime molds, and water molds belong to this group. Fungi are mostly multicellular organisms. They occur as filaments (hyphae) that form structures called a mycelium. They are saprophytic and nonphotosynthetic. Mushrooms, mildews, and puffballs are examples of fungi. Yeasts are also fungi but they are single-celled organisms. Plants are autotrophic eukaryotes. They possess chlorophyll (green pigment) that enable them to capture and use light energy for food production (photosynthesis). Animals are heterotrophic eukaryotes. They are multicellular organisms that rely on other organisms for nutrients as they do not have the ability to produce their own food as plants do. Humans belong to the animal group. Below is an example of human taxonomy. Figure 4: Taxonomy of Human Try to answer the quiz below to check what you have learned so far about systems. References
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