Functions of Life in a Photosynthetic Unicellular Organism

Homeostasis

The organism uses contractile vacuoles to manage its water content by filling up with water and expelling it through the plasma membrane.

Reproduction

The nucleus can divide to support cell division through mitosis.

Metabolism

Most metabolic pathways occur in the cytoplasm.

Growth

After consuming and assimilating biomass from food, the algae will get larger until it divides.

Response

The wave action of the cilia moves the algae in response to changes in the environment, such as towards light.

Excretion

The plasma membrane controls the entry and exit of substances, including the diffusion out of waste oxygen.

Nutrition

Photosynthesis occurs inside the chloroplasts to provide the algae with food.

Surface area to volume ratio

The ratio is important in the limitation of cell size.

Cell division

The cell must divide in order to restore a viable surface area to volume ratio and survive.

Specialized cells and tissues

They increase their surface area to optimize the transfer of materials.

Metabolic rate

It is a function of the cell's mass/volume.

Material exchange

It is a function of the cell's surface area.

Cell death

If the metabolic rate is greater than the rate of material exchange, the cell will eventually die.

Emergent properties

Multicellular organisms have properties that emerge from the interaction of their cellular components.