Which of the following organisms cannot exist freely on its own?
Answer Details
The organism that cannot exist freely on its own is Plasmodium. Plasmodium is a parasitic protozoan that causes malaria in humans. It cannot survive outside of its host, which is typically a mosquito or a human. Plasmodium has a complex life cycle that involves both sexual and asexual reproduction, and it requires a specific set of environmental conditions to complete its life cycle. Once inside the host, the parasite invades the host's red blood cells and feeds on hemoglobin, which can cause severe anemia and other complications. Therefore, Plasmodium is entirely dependent on its host for survival and cannot exist freely on its own.