Cellular Cooperation: Get Answers to Your Questions

[confused2008]

Hi,
Im new to this and i have a random question?
A friend of mine asked me if there is a single cell species which on it own functions like a single cell but when say for example 3 of them get together they take 1/3 of the workload and together function as a single cell. The cells after a while split up and function individualy again.
I am totally baffled by this question and am looking for a wity answer. ;)
Please could you help.

 

[JorgeLobo]

Maybe he wants you to help him do his homewrk.

 

[confused2008]

Thanks for the reply.
Probably, but he didn't mention homework and i am quite currious about it myself. i have been working through the single cell information database on the net and have had no luck so i was looking for some advice on where to look.

 

[Andy Resnick]

Volvox immediately comes to mind, as does Dictyostelium and (at a higher level of organization) Siphonophorae.

 

[JorgeLobo]

These are not involved in some 3 celled cooperative complex. there are plenty of multicellular associations - even between diverse organisms (e.g lichens). Just can't see one 3 cells in complexity short of one involving an endosymbiotic interpretation of intracellular organellles,

 

[confused2008]

Thank you for your reply's. I do understand that there are many multicellular complexes I was just using 3 cells as an example. The endosymbiotic interpetation are you referring to is like mitochondria in eukaryotic cells I guess?

 

[JorgeLobo]

yup - mitochondria, chloroplast, etc - maybe stretch it to include plasmids and lysogeny (?)..