Apparently there are multicellular prokaryotes. While some prokaryotes go through a multicellular stage, such as the myxobacteria, there are a few species among the magnetotactic bacteria that are described as being "obligatorily multicellular". The "organism" is multicellular at all stages in its life cycle. It forms a hollow sphere of cells reminiscent of the algae Volvox and consists of a functiionally coordinated cell layer, the cells of which undergoe synchronous division. The organism itself reproduces by undergoing binary fission. Apparently no single, free-living cells have been found. A prokaryotic organism?
Merry Youle "Everyone Rowing in the Same Direction"
Small Things Considered - The Microbe Blog
20 May 2010
Keim CN et al (2004)
Multicellular life cycle of magnetotactic prokaryotes
FEMS Microbiol Lett. 2004 Nov 15;240(2):203-8
Abreu F, Silva KT, Martins JL, Lins U (2006)
Cell viability in magnetotactic multicellular prokaryotes
International Microbiology (PDF)
Had it been April, I would have thought this was a clever joke.
Thoughts?
Implications for the evolution of multicellular life? Or dead-end oddball?