What term describes the properties gained by a complex system when its individual parts work together?

The term that describes the properties gained by a complex system when its individual parts work together is known as an emergent property. This concept is central to understanding how various biological systems operate, as the interactions and relationships among components can result in new characteristics that are not evident when examining the components in isolation.

For example, in a biological context, the heart is made up of various types of cells working collaboratively. While individual heart cells have their own unique functions, it is their collective interaction that allows the heart to pump blood effectively—an emergent property of the entire organ. This illustrates that the whole system exhibits characteristics that are not present in the individual parts alone.

Understanding emergent properties is crucial in fields such as biology, ecology, and systems theory, as it helps to explain how complex behaviors and functions arise from simpler interactions.