Multi-Celled vs. Single Celled

Multi-Celled vs. Single Celled Organisms

S5L3 Students will diagram and label parts of various cells (plant, animal, single-celled, multi-celled).
a. Use magnifiers such as microscopes or hand lenses to observe cells and their structure.
b. Identify parts of a plant cell (membrane, wall, cytoplasm, nucleus, chloroplasts) and of an animal cell (membrane, cytoplasm, and nucleus) and determine the function of the parts.
c. Explain how cells in multi-celled organisms are similar and different in structure and function to single-celled organisms.

Single Celled Organisms

As you should know by now, all living things, plants and animals are made of cells. In some cases, however, the cell is the animal. For example, if you take a droplet of pond water and look at it under a microscope you will see tiny organisms swimming around in the little drop of water. Single celled organisms must be able to feed, protect, move and reproduce with only one cell. To learn more, you can check out the video below.

Cells, Tissues and Organs

The video to the right explains the how cells work together in multi celled organisms. Unlike in single celled organisms each cell has a single purpose. For example, white blood cells help keep the body safe. They don't have to worry about making the body move or helping it eat. Cells group together and make up tissues. Tissues group together and make up organs such as the heart, lungs and even the skin.