Feeding and Digestion in Amoeba
Key Notes :
Introduction to Amoeba:
- Amoeba is a single-celled organism found in water, soil, and decaying organic matter.
- It belongs to the group of organisms called protozoa.
Structure of Amoeba:
- Amoeba has an irregular shape without a fixed body structure.
- It moves and captures food using temporary extensions of its cell membrane called pseudopodia (false feet).
Feeding Process:
- Phagocytosis: Amoeba engulfs its food particles through pseudopodia.
- The food particle is surrounded by pseudopodia, forming a food vacuole.
Sources of Food:
- Amoeba feeds on microscopic organisms like algae, bacteria, and other small particles present in its environment.
Digestion:
- The food vacuole contains digestive enzymes.
- These enzymes break down the food into simpler substances.
- Digestion is intracellular, meaning it occurs inside the cell.
Absorption:
- The digested nutrients are absorbed directly into the cytoplasm of the amoeba for energy and growth.
Egestion:
- Undigested waste material is expelled out of the cell by moving the vacuole to the cell surface and releasing its contents.
Key Features:
- Amoeba adapts its feeding based on available food.
- It shows a primitive form of digestion, unlike complex organisms.
Importance of Amoeba:
- Amoeba plays a role in the ecosystem by consuming decaying matter and microorganisms.
- It serves as a model organism for studying basic life processes.
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