Is the eukaryotic cell a colony?

I do not know what a swarm robot is, but as for multicellular organisms, the advantage is specialization of functions. The unicellular being has to make all functions, feed, reproduce..., by itself. In colonies first, and later in pluricellular beings, there is specialization, giving rise to tissues, and full organs.

Hi pangor,Your message is quite old, so I do not know if you are still interested on the subject. I have a copy of the book, and read it some years ago. It is a very interesting and well written book, very didactic. Only thing I do not like is that Dawkins is very belligerent against religion, but for scientific popularizing, it is excellent. If you give me some address, I can send you the book.

I am not a biologist, but have an interest in botanic. I am familiar with the evolutive process undergone by algae, that progressed from unicellular to multicellular organization via colony association. I know only superficially the endosymbiosis theory, but it seems to me a different process that colony. Basically colony seems to be an association, wears endosymbiosis seems to imply fagocitosys. Or may both processes be considered similar? What is your opinion?