Give reasons for the following.
(i) Prokaryotes are unicellular, while eukaryotes can be unicellular or multicellular.
(ii) Locomotion is the ultimate criteria for classifying living organisms as plants and animals.
Answer 1)
Prokaryotic cells do not contain membrane bound organelles and a proper nucleus. All the functions of the cell are performed by the cytoplasm and the cell membrane. So, they require direct contact with the environment and cannot support a multicellular structure. While in eukaryotes, the cells contain nucleus, mitochondria, chloroplast, endoplasmic reticulum, and other organelles. There is division of labor inside the cells such that different organelles perform different functions. So, they can survive as unicellular organisms as well as support multicellular organization.
Answer 2)
Locomotion is the ultimate criteria for classifying living organisms as plants and animals as the most important visible distinguishing feature between the two is movement. Animals are the ones which move freely from one place to another, while, plants remain stationary.