Cellular movement

Question 1

INTRODUCTION : What are cells dependent on?

Answer 1

Cells are dependent on an aqueous environment.

Question 2

What did we initially exist as? What was our movement dependent on?

Answer 2

Initially we existed as unicellular organisms and

lived in the sea, and our movement was dependent on the circulating currents in that sea.

Question 3

What happened as these unicellular organisms developed in complexity?

Answer 3

As these
unicellular organisms developed in complexity, it developed the ability to control movement, and we
see today that there are unicellular organisms that use motile appendages to move around
independently of the currents.

Question 4

Appendages :
What are they known as?
Where are they found? Types of movements they use to propel the cell?

Answer 4

We know these appendages as flagellae (single flagellum) or cilia
(single cilium) which are found along the plasma membrane and use wavelike or whip-like
movement to propel the cell.

Question 5

What happened as organisms developed multicellularity?

Answer 5

As organisms developed multicellularity, cells became specialised to
perform specific functions.

Question 6

Most of these cells lose their ability to be motile. What happens when they transition to land?

Answer 6

Most of these cells lost their ability to be motile, however, transition to
land meant that multicellular organisms had to develop mechanisms to move against gravity either
to find food, a mate or to escaper from danger.