“I think, therefore a single fertilized egg cell can replicate itself into trillions of specialized and exquisitely organized cells.”

“And you are made of a hundred trillion cells. We are, each of us, a multitude.”

“The weariness of the cell is the vigour of the organism.”

“So, what if your entire body was, oh I don’t know, dropped into molten metal?”Nick laughed. “Like the end of Terminator 2? Good question. If there’s even a single cell remaining, it can regrow my whole body. But even if there isn’t a single cell left, then an ancient spell I put into place when I became a Lych kicks in and regenerates sufficient organic material for the regrowth process to begin.”

“After a geological epoch passed in which single-celled organisms evolved into talk show hosts, Mr. Coffee was still holding out on me.”

“Most people think of viruses as parasites, but they aren't parasites at all. An organism has to be considered alive to be classified as a parasite. Viruses don't do any of things living organisms do. They don't grow, they can't move on their own, and they don't metabolize. They don't even have cells. But the one thing a virus is very good at is reproducing. When it finds a suitable host cell, it attaches itself and injects its DNA through the cell's plasma wall. The virus's genes are transcribed into the host cell's DNA, and the host cell's genetic code is rewritten. Whatever its job was before, its new job is to do nothing but produce copies of the original virus, usually until it's created so many that the cell bursts open and spreads the infection.”