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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]
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]
Multinucleate cells (also known as multinucleated cells or polynuclear cells) are eukaryotic cells that have more than one nucleus, i.e., multiple nuclei share one common cytoplasm. Mitosis in multinucleate cells can occur either in a coordinated, synchronous manner where all nuclei divide simultaneously or asynchronously where individual ...
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 ...
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.
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 .
Symbiosis is a close, long term relationship between organisms of different species. Symbiosis can be ectosymbiosis (one organism lives on the surface of other organism) or endosymbiosis (one organism lives inside other organism). [41] Symbiotic relationship can also exist between microorganism that live closely together in a given environment ...