Dictyostelium is a genus of slime molds that are commonly used as model organisms in biological research. These organisms are well-known for their unique life cycle, where individual cells aggregate to form a multicellular structure when resources are scarce. Dictyostelium has been widely studied for its ability to exhibit both unicellular and multicellular behavior, making it a valuable tool for studying various biological processes such as cell signaling, development, and evolution. Researchers use Dictyostelium to investigate a wide range of topics, including cell migration, chemotaxis, phagocytosis, and cell-cell communication. Additionally, Dictyostelium is easy to manipulate genetically, making it a powerful system for studying gene function and molecular pathways.