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Re:Ask HN: What interesting problems are you working on? by FerociousTimes on Friday September 16, 2022 @05:26PM (#32872194)
> Will the output of your product prevent the cells from procreating/multiplying?

How would unicellular organisms procreate exactly?!

I am not being pedantic here but procreation usually entails sexual reproduction and I don't see how this is possible for these organisms.

Re:Ask HN: What interesting problems are you working on? by zxexz on Friday September 16, 2022 @05:38PM (#32872326)
I'm pretty sure procreation just refers to the process of reproduction, sexual and asexual inclusive.
Re:Ask HN: What interesting problems are you working on? by FerociousTimes on Friday September 16, 2022 @06:45PM (#32872991)
My understanding of the pertinent terms in this specific context is as follows:

1) Multiplying: Asexual reproduction only.

2) Reproduction: Sexual and asexual reproduction.

3) Procreation: Sexual reproduction only.

Re:Ask HN: What interesting problems are you working on? by zxexz on Saturday September 17, 2022 @12:06AM (#32874677)
I appreciate the way you understand the terminology. However, I'm not sure everyone else understands it the same way. Although, I do admit the terms can be confusing.

BTW: I don't see how 'multiplying' could refer to just asexual reproduction. People often use it in sentences like 'the deer population near here multiplied the last couple years'.

Re:Ask HN: What interesting problems are you working on? by FerociousTimes on Saturday September 17, 2022 @07:23PM (#32882628)
Well, I see how referring to reproduction in a herd of deer, as a collective, in everyday speech, by using the word "multiplying", but not on an individual level, which adds to my point.

As you can see, getting terminology right is challenging and not always straightforward.