What advantages do multicelluar organisms such as a sponge have over single-celled organisms?

Question

What advantages do multicelluar organisms such as a sponge have over single-celled organisms?

Answer 1

1. They can divvy up functions.  One cell doesn't have to do everything - process food, produce ample antibodies, perceive light, respond to stimuli, etc.  You get specialized cells.  A sponge doesn't have eyes and ears, but other multicellular organisms do - fantastic advantage, no?

2. If one cell dies, that's not the death of the organism.

3. Increased genetic variability in daughter generations.  This isn't true of all multicellular organisms, just those that undergo sexual reproduction.  But you can't get that in unicellular beings.

Answer 2

Multicellular organisms are able to complete much more complicated tasks and are much more efficient at completing the simpler tasks. Each part of the multicellular organism is specifically designed to perform a specific task ~ and they are usually good at it.

All the parts come together and work as a whole to be greater than the some of the parts. None of this exists in a single-celled organism.

The single-celled prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells lacked the specialization and organization we see in many plants and animals today. Single-celled organisms need to perform every life function within the confines of a single cell.

Multicellular organisms, like ourselves, however, can have cells specialized for a particular function. Thus, a liver cell doesn't have to "worry" about all the chemical reactions and interactions with other cells that a retinal cell in the back of your eye has to worry about. The liver cell can specialize and be very good at its job. Likewise, the cells in your eye and making up the rest of the organ systems in your body can specialize and be very good at what they do. This specialization allows for more efficiency.

Best Wishes :)