Consider these two examples of tissues: 1. The body of a slime mold that flows over a rotten log appears to lack any partitioning into distinct cells; however, it does become cellular when it changes form and produces spores.
2) The surfaces of parasitic flatworms and some insect tissues are "syncytial" layers of living material that developed from a single cell but now contain many nuclei, though they lack partitioning by cell membranes. These tissues actively consume food and produce wastes.
If the cell theory states that "all living things are composed of cells," then

A) neither of these are living tissues because they violate the cell theory.
B) these examples prove that some vital force is involved, beyond normal cell structures, to give life to living organisms.
C) these tissues are obviously a bridge between nonliving and primitive living cells.
D) the general concept of life-is-cellular still holds, since these organisms still utilize cells at some time in their life cycles, though these examples show that cell membranes can be abandoned.
E) these examples demonstrate that cell membranes are a necessity if a cell is to be classified as "living."

Question

MUHINDER Pannirselvam · Accepted Answer

Final Answer : D, Explanation :  These examples demonstrate that while some living tissues may lack partitioning by cell membranes at some point in their life cycle, they still utilize cells at other times. Therefore, the general concept that life is cellular still holds, but these examples show that cell membranes can sometimes be abandoned.

Definitions

Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives

Related questions