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Science Reading Material 1

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Jeffrey Farillas
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6 views1 page

Science Reading Material 1

Uploaded by

Jeffrey Farillas
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Science Reading Material #1

UNDERSTANDING UNICELLULAR AND MULTICELLULAR ORGANISMS

All living things are made up of cells, but these cells can work in different ways depending on the type of
organism. Some organisms, like bacteria, are unicellular and consist of just one cell. Others, like humans, are
multicellular and have many cells, each with specialized roles. Let’s explore what makes unicellular and
multicellular organisms unique!
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1. UNICELLULAR ORGANISMS: ONE CELL, MANY JOBS

In unicellular organisms, a single cell performs all the functions needed to keep the organism alive. Since they only
have one cell, it has to handle everything on its own, like:
 Obtaining nutrients (finding food)
 Producing energy
 Removing waste
 Reproducing
Examples of Unicellular Organisms:
 Bacteria: Simple organisms found almost everywhere.
 Protists: Like the paramecium, which lives in pond water. Paramecia have small structures called food vacuoles
to digest food they find in the water.
 Yeast: Used in baking and brewing, and also a single-celled organism.
Each of these organisms relies on just one cell to do all its work, allowing it to survive on its own.

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2. MULTICELLULAR ORGANISMS: MANY CELLS, SPECIALIZED JOBS

In multicellular organisms, there are many cells working together, each specialized for different tasks. Instead of one
cell doing everything, different types of cells focus on specific jobs, which collectively keep the organism healthy and
functioning.
Examples of Multicellular Organisms:
 Humans: Made up of trillions of cells that develop into specialized types, such as:
o Nerve cells: Have long extensions to transmit signals.
o Skin cells: Form flat layers to protect the body.
o Muscle cells: Bundle together to contract and enable movement.
Each type of cell has a structure that suits its job. For example:
 Nerve cells have long parts called dendrites and axons that help send messages.
 Muscle cells are packed with mitochondria to generate energy for movement.
 Pancreas cells have many ribosomes and endoplasmic reticula to produce proteins for digestion.

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3. HOW CELLS’ INTERNAL STRUCTURES SUPPORT THEIR FUNCTIONS

All cells have small structures called organelles, which carry out specific tasks. While every cell has organelles like
ribosomes (for making proteins) and mitochondria (for energy), the type and number of organelles can vary depending
on the cell’s role:
 Muscle cells have more mitochondria because they need extra energy for movement.
 Pancreatic cells have more ribosomes for protein production, aiding in digestion.

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SUMMARY
 Unicellular organisms have one cell that performs all life functions.
 Multicellular organisms have many specialized cells, each with a unique role.
 Cells in multicellular organisms have different structures and numbers of organelles based on their specific
function.
By working together, these cells allow multicellular organisms to survive, grow, and adapt!

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