Discoidei

Discoidei is a subclass of amoeboid protists belonging to the phylum Amoebozoa. These organisms are characterized by their ability to aggregate and form multicellular fruiting bodies under conditions of starvation. This aggregation process is a remarkable example of social behavior in single-celled organisms, allowing them to survive unfavorable environments by producing resistant spores. The aggregation is typically initiated by chemical signals, such as cyclic AMP (cAMP), which are released by individual amoebae and attract others. These cells then move towards the signal, forming a streaming multicellular slug-like structure called a pseudoplasmodium. This pseudoplasmodium migrates to a suitable location and then differentiates into a stalk and a sorus, which contains the spores. When conditions improve, the spores germinate into individual amoebae. The most well-studied representative of the Discoidei is Dictyostelium discoideum, a model organism extensively used in research to understand cell signaling, cell differentiation, and the evolution of multicellularity. Their life cycle, from solitary cells to a complex multicellular structure, provides valuable insights into fundamental biological processes.