Tukisoluilla

Tukisoluilla is a fictional genus introduced in this article to illustrate a hypothetical class of supportive cells in a simple meadow of life. The name combines Finnish tuki, meaning support, and solu, meaning cell, to reflect its proposed function as a scaffold for neighboring cells in a theoretical organism.

Within the thought experiment, Tukisoluilla cells are small, ovoid units roughly 2 to 5 micrometers in diameter. They are described as non-motile most of the time and embedded in an extracellular matrix that forms a lightweight structural network. The cell surface is imagined to feature adhesion sites that establish junctions with nearby Tukisoluilla cells, creating a loose, tissue-like arrangement without full multicellularity.

In ecology, Tukisoluilla is said to inhabit sediment–water interfaces in freshwater environments as part of biofilm-like communities. Its role is to enhance mechanical stability and modulate diffusion of nutrients and signaling molecules, thereby supporting other microbes within the community.

Origin and use: The concept was proposed in a 2012 theoretical paper to explore how dedicated support cells could influence tissue organization in simple life forms. Since then it has appeared in teaching materials and speculative discussions about extracellular matrices and the evolution of multicellularity.

See also: extracellular matrix, tissue engineering, multicellularity, glia, biofilms.