SI
SI
discoversearch

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor.  We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community.  If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.
Pastimes : Isn't that Awesome
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  
To: Neeka who wrote (89)11/27/2018 3:11:21 PM
From: TimF  Read Replies (1) of 101
 
But is it really a single organism? For something like this I'm not sure either "single organism" or "multiple organism" is clear or perhaps even sensible. Its a network or colony. Its sort of in a state in between being a single organism and multiple attached clones/copies.

The question is sort of like "is Pluto a planet?". People like to classify things with exact and certain boundaries but in quite a few cases the boundaries aren't clear. When less was know about objects in space the boundries seemed clearer but now we know that there isn't some empty boundry were you can say anything bigger is a planet and if smaller its a dwarf planet or moon or asteroid or something else. You just get more and more objects of smaller and smaller size even if you just limit consideration to object orbiting the sun.

With life forms any sexually reproducing species obviously create new organisms, asexual reproduction does to if the results move awat from each other and don't work together. But bacterial mats/films work together in a very limited way, and fungal colonies are genetically identical (within the colony, not to others unless you have a separated colony from the same source), often physically attached, and have parts working together. There close enough to possibly be seen as a single organism, but they could also be seen as not being one organism. The definition of organism or "single organism" becomes blurry at the boundaries.
Report TOU ViolationShare This Post
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  

HomeMailHotSubjectMarksPeopleMarksKeepersSettings
Terms Of UseContact UsCopyright/IP PolicyPrivacy PolicyAbout UsFAQAdvertise on SI
© 2025 Knight Sac Media.  Data provided by Twelve Data, Alpha Vantage, and CityFALCON News