Biological complexity: more on siphonosphores (Introduction)

by dhw, Friday, April 17, 2020, 10:50 (1682 days ago) @ David Turell

DAVID: I've changed my view. More research and this guy is much more of a multicellular organism than bacterial mats, as I first suggested. Another example of an econiche system with strange participants. I accept it as another God-design example.

dhw: So do you or do you not agree that this guy’s body works in the same way as our own bodies: communities of cells with different functions working as a team?

DAVID: It seems to be an early experimentation in simple multicellularity, by having different organisms work cooperatively. Each individual must reproduce itself slowly over time to continue its contribution.

dhw: I will take that as an agreement that this guy’s body works in the same way as ours, but you can’t bring yourself to say so.

DAVID: I stand by what I said. In a tiny way like us. What is your point?

The discussion started when I pointed out that my new friend the siphonosphore provided a wonderful illustration of how all multicellular bodies function – including ours: through the cooperation of cellular communities. Instead of accepting the analogy, you proceeded to challenge it. I really don’t know why, since you keep confirming everything I said. Perhaps just arguing for the sake of arguing?