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A multicellular organism is an organism that consists of more than one cell, unlike unicellular organisms. [1] All species of animals, land plants and most fungi are multicellular, as are many algae, whereas a few organisms are partially uni- and partially multicellular, like slime molds and social amoebae such as the genus Dictyostelium. [2] [3]
Many authors have argued that a simple textbook definition, following Mayr's concept, works well for most multi-celled organisms, but breaks down in several situations: When organisms reproduce asexually, as in single-celled organisms such as bacteria and other prokaryotes, [76] and parthenogenetic or apomictic multi-celled organisms.
Unicellular organisms can move in order to find food or escape predators. Common mechanisms of motion include flagella and cilia. In multicellular organisms, cells can move during processes such as wound healing, the immune response and cancer metastasis. For example, in wound healing in animals, white blood cells move to the wound site to kill ...
Biology is the science of life. It spans multiple levels from biomolecules and cells to organisms and populations. Biology is the scientific study of life. [1] [2] [3] It is a natural science with a broad scope but has several unifying themes that tie it together as a single, coherent field.
Obtaining such genetically identical organisms (or pure strains) can be useful; this is done by spreading organisms on a culture plate and starting a new stock from a single resulting colony. [ 12 ] A biofilm is a colony of microorganisms often comprising several species, with properties and capabilities greater than the aggregate of ...
Coenocyte of Sphaeroforma arctica Botrydium, showing a coenocytic body. A coenocyte (/ ˈ s iː n ə ˌ s aɪ t /) is a multinucleate cell which can result from multiple nuclear divisions without their accompanying cytokinesis, in contrast to a syncytium, which results from cellular aggregation followed by dissolution of the cell membranes inside the mass. [1]
The cytoplasm then separates, creating multiple daughter cells. [17] [18] [19] Some parasitic, single-celled organisms undergo a multiple fission-like process to produce numerous daughter cells from a single parent cell. Isolates of the human parasite Blastocystis hominis were observed to begin such a process within 4 to 6 days. [20]
Many multicellular organisms are also microscopic, namely micro-animals, some fungi, and some algae, but these are generally not considered microorganisms. [ further explanation needed ] Microorganisms can have very different habitats , and live everywhere from the poles to the equator , in deserts , geysers , rocks , and the deep sea .