basic unit of life

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "basic unit of life" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in scientific contexts, particularly in biology, to refer to the smallest structural and functional unit of an organism. Example: "Cells are often referred to as the basic unit of life, as they perform essential functions necessary for the survival of living organisms."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

Cells are the most basic unit of life.

University of California, Berkeley

Information of the proteins' subcellular localization is crucially important for revealing their biological functions in a cell, the basic unit of life.

Genomics

One basic property is the ability of a living object to reproduce itself, and the simplest example of that was the reproduction of a cell, the basic unit of life.

The Guardian

In 2009, I presented a television series for the BBC called The Cell, which was really a version of the story of biology, framed around that basic unit of life.

The Guardian

The cell is the most basic unit of life on Earth, and the development of the cell membrane (or plasma membrane) may be one of the most important parts of the story of the evolution of life.

Britannica

Core Idea LS1 "hinges on the unifying principle that cells are the basic unit of life".

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

Cells are the basic units of life.

Britannica

Molecular biology, field of science concerned with studying the chemical structures and processes of biological phenomena that involve the basic units of life, molecules.

Britannica

Synthetic biologists take component parts of cells and chemicals — the basic units of life — and mix them together interchangeably, the way you would swap out a hard drive on a computer.

The New Yorker

All known organisms consist of one or more cells, the most basic units of life.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Cells are the basic units of life; hence, how cells work and the molecular mechanisms involved in cell physiology are an essential part of the curricula of all undergraduate programs in the biological sciences.

CBE Life Sciences Education

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about biology or related sciences, use the phrase "basic unit of life" to clearly communicate the foundational role of cells in all living organisms. This phrase is well-established and universally understood in the scientific community.

Common error

While "basic unit of life" is a simple term, avoid oversimplifying its significance. Ensure that you provide sufficient context and detail to convey the complexity and importance of cells in biological processes. Don't just state it, explain it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "basic unit of life" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It is used to identify and define the fundamental structural and functional component of all living organisms. Ludwig examples confirm its role in scientific and educational contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

20%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

9%

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "basic unit of life" accurately refers to the cell, serving as the fundamental building block for all known living organisms. As Ludwig's analysis confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used in scientific, educational, and news contexts to define this crucial biological concept. When using this phrase, it's important to provide adequate context to convey the significance of cells and avoid oversimplification. Alternative phrases like "fundamental unit of life" or "essential unit of life" may also be used to express similar concepts, ensuring clarity and precision in scientific communication. The prominence of the phrase across various reliable sources, as highlighted by Ludwig, reinforces its importance in biological discussions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fundamental unit of life

Replaces "basic" with "fundamental", emphasizing the essential nature of the unit.

essential unit of life

Substitutes "basic" with "essential", highlighting the necessity of the unit for life.

building block of life

Uses a more metaphorical term, "building block", to describe the unit's role in constructing living organisms.

elementary unit of life

Replaces "basic" with "elementary", stressing the foundational nature of the unit.

smallest unit of life

Focuses on size by using "smallest" instead of "basic", highlighting the unit's minimal scale.

foundational element of life

Changes "unit" to "element" and "basic" to "foundational", emphasizing the unit's role in the foundation of life.

fundamental component of life

Replaces "unit" with "component", denoting a part that contributes to the whole of life.

core unit of life

Emphasizes the centrality of the unit by using "core" instead of "basic".

indivisible unit of life

Highlights the unit's nature as being unable to be broken down into smaller living parts.

primary structural unit of life

Adds "structural" to specify the unit's role in providing structure to living things.

FAQs

What is meant by the phrase "basic unit of life"?

The phrase "basic unit of life" refers to the cell, which is the smallest structural and functional unit of an organism. All living organisms are composed of one or more cells.

Why is the cell considered the "basic unit of life"?

The cell is considered the "basic unit of life" because it can independently carry out all the necessary functions for life, such as metabolism, reproduction, and response to stimuli.

What are some alternatives to saying "basic unit of life"?

You can use alternatives such as "fundamental unit of life", "essential unit of life", or "building block of life" depending on the context.

How does the concept of the "basic unit of life" relate to cell theory?

The concept of the "basic unit of life" is a core tenet of cell theory, which states that all living organisms are composed of cells, the cell is the basic structural and functional unit of life, and all cells arise from pre-existing cells.