Multicellular organism

Multicellular organism refers to an organism that is composed of more than one cell, as opposed to a unicellular organism which is made up of only one cell. Multicellular organisms can be as simple as a fungus with two cells, or as complex as a human being with trillions of cells.

Characteristics

Multicellular organisms exhibit a high degree of cell specialization. This means that different cells have different functions. For example, in humans, there are nerve cells, muscle cells, and blood cells, each with their own specific roles. This specialization allows for a higher level of internal complexity, which is one of the key advantages of multicellularity.

Evolution

The evolution of multicellular organisms is a major milestone in the history of life on Earth. It is believed to have occurred independently in several different groups of organisms, including plants, animals, and fungi. The first multicellular organisms probably evolved from colonial organisms, which are groups of identical cells that live together.

Examples

Examples of multicellular organisms include all animals, plants, and most fungi. Some protists are also multicellular.

See also

• Cell
• Unicellular organism
• Evolution of multicellularity

References

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  C. elegans stained

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  The Simplest Integrated Multicellular Organism Unveiled

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  Colonial Flagellate Hypothesis