Unicellular vs Multicellular

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Organism Noun

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[or-guh-niz-uhm]

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Organism

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Any individual living thing, ranging from microscopic bacteria to large animals, that is composed of one or more cells.

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Example: An amoeba is a complete organism made of just one cell, showing how a single cell can perform all of life's essential functions.

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Cells Noun

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[selz]

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Cells

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The smallest structural and functional unit of an organism, considered the fundamental building block of all known living things.

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Example: This image shows the basic parts of a single animal cell, such as the nucleus and cell membrane, which are building blocks of multicellular organisms.

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Nutrients Noun

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[noo-tree-uhnts]

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Nutrients

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Substances obtained from the environment that provide the nourishment essential for an organism's growth, health, and overall survival.

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Example: This image shows six major types of nutrients that multicellular organisms like humans need, grouping examples of foods for each nutrient type.

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Wastes Noun

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[waysts]

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Wastes

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Unusable or toxic materials produced by an organism's metabolic processes that must be removed to maintain cellular health.

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Example: In multicellular organisms, specialized systems remove wastes. This diagram shows carbon dioxide, a waste product, moving from blood cells into the lungs to be exhaled.

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Reproduce Verb

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[ree-pruh-doos]

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Reproduce

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The biological process by which new individual organisms, known as offspring, are produced from their parent or parents.

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Example: This diagram shows a multicellular organism, a planarian, reproducing asexually. When cut into pieces, each piece can regenerate into a new, complete organism.

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Unicellular Organism Noun

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[yoo-ni-sel-yuh-ler or-guh-niz-uhm]

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Unicellular Organism

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A living being that consists of only one cell, which must perform all of the functions necessary for life.

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Example: This diagram shows an Amoeba, a classic example of a unicellular organism, with its key parts labeled to show how a single cell functions.

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Multicellular Organism Noun

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[muhl-tee-sel-yuh-ler or-guh-niz-uhm]

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Multicellular Organism

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A complex living being composed of more than one cell, typically featuring different types of specialized cells working together.

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Example: This diagram shows that a large muscle is made of many smaller, individual muscle cells, which is what makes it a multicellular structure.

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Specialized Cells Noun

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[spesh-uh-lahyzd selz]

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Specialized Cells

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Distinct cell types within a multicellular organism that are structurally adapted to perform a specific, dedicated function for the whole.

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Example: This diagram shows a nerve cell, a specialized cell in multicellular animals. Its unique, branched structure is adapted to transmit signals throughout the body.

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Transport Systems Noun

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[trans-port sis-tuhmz]

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Transport Systems

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Integrated networks within a multicellular organism that move essential materials like nutrients, gases, and wastes throughout its body.

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Example: This diagram shows a plant's transport system, a key feature of multicellular life, with tubes carrying water up and food throughout the organism.

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Prokaryote Noun

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[proh-kar-ee-oht]

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Prokaryote

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A microscopic single-celled organism that lacks a distinct, membrane-bound nucleus and other specialized organelles within its cellular structure.

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Example: This diagram shows a bacterium, a type of prokaryote. It is a single-celled organism with its DNA in a nucleoid area, not a nucleus.