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.The surfaces of parasitic flatworms and some insect tissues are "syncytial" layers of living material that have many nuclei but lack partitioning by cell membranes.These tissues actively consume food and produce wastes.Considering that the cell theory states that "all living things are composed of cells," then
A) these tissues are not living because they violate the cell theory.
B) this proves some vital force is involved beyond normal cell structures in order 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 sometime in their life these organisms still utilize cells, but this shows cell membranes can be abandoned.
E) this demonstrates that cell membranes are a necessity to be classified as a living cell.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

These organisms are living and were once composed of cells, even if the internal membranes between cells have been done away with. Since these organisms exhibit other characteristics of living cells, they are not nonliving, nor do they do not form a bridge between nonliving and living. Since they were once cells, no other vital force needs to be implicated. Since these cells do not have complete cell membranes, cell membranes are not a necessity to be classified as living.

The Body of a Slime Mold That Flows Over a Rotten