In What Sense Does the Comment "The Whole is Greater

Question

In what sense does the comment "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts" apply to biology?
A)The basic unit in biological systems is cells and they must be combined to make more complex organisms.
B)Cooperation and interdisciplinary research allows us to understand systems rather than just parts of the system.
C)As we move up through biological levels, the systems become more complex.
D)As we move up through biological levels, novel properties emerge that could not be identified at lower levels.
E)This statement has nothing to do with biology.

Accepted Answer

As we move up through biological levels, novel properties emerge that could not be identified at lower levels. This is known as emergent properties, which means that the whole system is more than just the sum of its individual parts. For example, an organ like the heart has emergent properties that cannot be explained by simply studying the cells or tissues that make it up. The heart's ability to pump blood, coordinate contractions, and respond to signals is a result of the interactions between its cells and tissues, which cannot be fully understood by studying them in isolation.