What are emergent properties?

Multicellular organisms show emergent properties; these are properties that exist due to many different components working together. For example, your lungs work and help you breathe due to all of the cells in them functioning as a unit; the cells by themselves do not aid you breathing. 

Another way to remember it is "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts"

Even the term "multicellular organisms" can help explain this - they are made up of many cells.

Cells form tissues > tissues form organs > organs form organ systems > organs form multicellular organisms.

Answered by Helen A. Biology tutor

10601 Views

See similar Biology GCSE tutors

Related Biology GCSE answers

All answers ▸

What is the difference between mitosis and meiosis?


How are animals cloned?


Explain how a nervous impulse is transmitted across a synapse?


What are the stages of Mitosis and how do I remember what happens in each of them?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact usWhatsapp logoMessage us on Whatsapptelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

© MyTutorWeb Ltd 2013–2024

Terms & Conditions|Privacy Policy