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Re:Multicellularity arose several times in the evolution of ... by friend_and_foe on Tuesday December 26, 2023 @08:47PM (#38778192)
I'm curious for anyone familiar with all this, why is it that fungal mycelium colonies and Portuguese Man-o-wars aren't considered multicellular organisms but things like slime molds are? Fruiting fungi even have specialized reproductive cells, and Portuguese Man-o-wars have two sexes, each specimen having all cells of the same sex in a single colony. What's the determining factor or set of determining factors that deliniate colonies of single cell organisms from multicellular organisms?
Re:Multicellularity arose several times in the evolution of ... by User23 on Tuesday December 26, 2023 @09:29PM (#38778444)
It’s arbitrary and based on tradition.
Re:Multicellularity arose several times in the evolution of ... by andrewedstrom on Wednesday December 27, 2023 @06:04AM (#38780863)
Slight correction: Portuguese Man-o-wars are actually considered multicellular organisms.

They’re weird organisms composed of multiple distinct animals that cannot survive independently and that originate from the same fertilized egg. But they are unambiguously multicellular.