[js1138]

Once the cell - whether a functional cell in a higher organism or a single cell organism - no longer communicates (or is no longer communications capable, e.g. in standby) - it is dead.

But no living single celled organism has ever died this way. All I am saying is that cells may be killed or may die from starvation or asphyxiation, but non-specialized cells do not die from entropy or information degradation.

[Alamo-Girl]

An autonomous single celled organism which is no longer communicating (Shannon, information) or capable of communicating (e.g. spore) - is dead.

The cause might be anything from physical destruction or malformation to environmental changes (absence of food, extreme changes in the environment, radiation, etc.)

But once the autonomous single celled organism is no longer communicating - it "achieves room temperature" (2nd law) just like the dead guy. It succumbs to entropy.