Unicellular and multicellular organisms

Functions of life in UNICELLULAR ORGANISMS unicellular organisms consist of only one cell. carry out all functions of life in a cell

7 Functions of life: Nutrition Growth Response Excretion Metabolism Homeostasis Reproduction

Surface area to Volume ratio and Multicellular organisms as a cell grows larger its surface area to volume ratio becomes smaller the rate which materials enter or leave depends on the surface area of the cell. the rate at which materials are used or produces depends on the volume too large may not be able to take in essential materials or excrete waste substances quickly enough multicellular organisms allow division of labour different groups of cells become specialized for different functions by the process of differentiation.

Differentiation cells use only the genes that it needs to follow it's pathway of development. cells cannot change to a different pathway.

Emergent PropertiesMulticellular organisms have properties that emerge from the interaction of their cellular components