Briefly discuss five criteria used to classify an organism as a multicelled animal? Solution Organisms that consist of more than one cell are known as multicellular organisms. Multicelluar organisms are made up of more than one cell. These cells identify and attach to each other to form a multicellular organism. Most of the multicellular organisms are visible to the naked eye. Organisms like plants, animals, and some algae from a single cell and they grow up into a multicelled organism. Both prokaryotes and eukaryotes show multicellularity. True multicellular organisms regenerate a whole organism from germ cells. There are there theories to discuss the mechanisms by which multicellularity could have evolved. Symbiotic Theory- Symbiotic theory states that the first multicellular organism arose from symbiosis behaviour of different species of a single-celled organism, each performing different functions. Such symbiotic relation ship is seen between clown fish and Riterri sea anemones. The Cellularization Theory or The Syncytial Theory- The cellularization theory states a unicellular organismwould have developed from membrane boundaries/partitions around each nuclei from a single celled organisms with multiple nuclei. Protists like cliates and slime molds have multiple nuclei supporting this theory. The Colonial Theory- The colonial theory that the symbiosis of many organisms of the same species led to the evolution of multicellular organisms. This theory was proposed by Haecked in 1874.Majority of multicellularity occurs as a consequence of the cells falling to separate following the process of division. Example of this theory can be seen in multicellular protists like Volvox, Eudorina. Advantages of Multicellularity in organism are that multicellularity allows the organism to exceed the size limits. Multicelluarity also permits in increasing the complexity of the organism by allowing differentiation of numerous cellular lineages in an organism. Animals are multicellular and move with the aid of cilia, flagella, or muscular organs based on contractile proteins. They have organelles including a nucleus, but no chliorplasts or cell walls. Animals acquire nutrients by ingestion. They have multiple cell with mitochondria and they depend on other organisms for food Biologists recognize 36 phyla in the animals kingdom. Size-The size of animals ranges from a few celled organosm like the mesozoans to animals weighing many tones like the blue whale. Animals bodies- Bodies of animals are made of cells organized into tissues which perform specific functions in most animals tissue are organized into complex organs, which form organ systems. Cell structure_ The animal cell contains organelles like the nucleus, mitochondria, Golgi complex, ribosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, lysosomes, vacuoles, centrioles, cytoskeieton. Animals are made up of many organs systems, that aids in performing specific functions that are necessary for the survival of the organism. O.