Multicellular
Multicellular
Multicellular (/ˌmʌltiˈsɛljʊlər/), derived from the Latin words "multi" meaning many, and "cellula" meaning small room, refers to organisms that are composed of more than one cell, in contrast to unicellular organisms.
Definition
Multicellular organisms are organisms that consist of more than one cell, in contrast to unicellular organisms. This characteristic is common in many forms of life such as plants, animals, and fungi. The structure of a multicellular organism allows for the division of labor among cells. Some cells are specialized for carrying out photosynthesis (in plants), others for sexual reproduction, others for fighting disease, and so on.
Etymology
The term "multicellular" is derived from the Latin "multi", meaning "many", and "cellula", meaning "small room". It was first used in the mid-19th century to describe organisms composed of multiple cells.
Related Terms
- Cell: The basic structural, functional, and biological unit of all known organisms.
- Unicellular: An organism that consists of a single cell.
- Cell Division: The process by which a parent cell divides into two or more daughter cells.
- Cell Specialization: The process by which generic cells change into specific cells meant to do certain tasks within the body.
- Organism: Any individual entity that embodies the properties of life.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Multicellular
- Wikipedia's article - Multicellular
This WikiMD article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski