Mrs. Petersen's Science Class
Join Our Class as we learn about one celled Organisms
Amoeba
- The process of breathing in amoeba takes place through cell membrane.
- The diet of amoebas include bacteria, metazoa, protozoa, plant cells, etc.
- Digestion of food in amoebas takes place in vacuoles.
- Contractile vacuoles perform the task of removal/excretion of water and waste materials from the body.
- Reproduction in amoeba is asexual in nature. Process of asexual reproduction in amoeba is known as binary fission.
- Important marine amoebas include the Vannella and Platyamoeba. Different areas in which these amoeba are found include the fronds of seaweeds, coastal rockpools and even open spaces of sea.
- The places rich in organic matter are known to contain high amount of amoeba.
- The most commonly found pathogenic amoeba include Entamoeba histolytica, Acanthamoeba, Balamuthia, Naegleria fowleri and Hartmannella.
- Some of the pathogenic bacteria use the body of amoebas to thrive and multiply.
- The amoeba is known to have a large genome. There are 290 base pairs present in the genome of Amoeba proteus.
- Contact with dilute or saline water creates excessive osmotic pressure and affects the amoeba. The cell of amoeba prevents salt influx when it comes in contact with saline water. This results into the cell becoming isotonic; it causes the cell to shrink further.
- Movement of amoeba while it is in search of food is governed by chemotaxis.
- Presence of organic content in the surroundings is favorable for the growth of amoeba. This is because, organic content helps increase the bacterial population. The amoeba thrives in areas with high bacterial population.
- The taxon, Sarcodina is classified into Actinopoda and Rhizopoda. Amoebas grouped under Rhizopoda possess unsupported pseudopodia. Those grouped under Actinopoda have stiff pseudopodia.
- Most species of amoeba resemble the Amoeba proteus. It is therefore, important to undertake careful study before coming to any particular conclusion about identification.
- Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/amoeba-facts.html