Amoeba

An amoeba refers to a single cell organism that is of a eukaryotic nature. Furthermore, this particular organism lacks a definite shape. Moreover, the movement of the amoeba cell takes place by means of pseudopodia. The temporary projections of the amoeba cell are pseudopodia or pseudopods, which literally means “false feet”. Also, the use of pseudopodia takes place by means of locomotion. The extremely small amoeba size cytoplasm contains the organelles. This cytoplasm is enclosed by a cell membrane. By using a process of phagoctyosis, the amoeba obtains its food. The digestion of the food particles takes place in its vacuole. Moreover, the reproduction of this single-cell creature takes place via mitosis.

Amoeba Meaning

Amoeba, in particular, refers to the genus Amoeba (true amoeba). The amoeba classification takes place in the family Amoebidae. Also, the class in amoeba classification takes place in Tubulinea.

This genus comprises of protists that are single-celled. Furthermore, amoebas are free-living organisms. The extremely small amoeba size still requires food to survive. As such, this extremely small organism feed mainly feed on detritus, protists, and bacteria.

The amoeba classification takes place in the protoplasmic movement.  Furthermore, the cytoplasmic projections of this extremely small organism are called pseudopodia (false feet). Some references consider this single-cell organism with the capability to change cell shape and form pseudopods whose extension and retraction is possible.

The initial amoeba classification was under the subphylum Sarcodina. However, with the analysis of modern molecular phylogenetic, experts found the subphylum to be monophyletic.

Most of the free-living freshwater amoebae are commonly available in lakes, ditches, or ponds. Moreover, their size is microscopic in nature.

Members of this taxonomic group were not the result of a common ancestor. Therefore, one cannot consider it as a single group.

As such, the term amoeba includes those that have the characteristics of amoeboid. Some of the medically notable amoeboid protists examples are Naegleria and Entamoeba histolytica.

Experts commonly find them in decaying vegetation. However, experts are able to obtain them with ease.  As such, they are a common subject of study and are stored in laboratories.

Shape of Amoeba

The amoeba size tends to vary greatly; from 2.3 micrometres to up to 2, 00,000 micrometres. The marine amoeboid Massisteria voersi size happens to be just 2.3 to 3 micrometres in diameter. On the other extremity lies the shells of deep-sea xenophyophores whose size can go up to 20 cm in diameter.

However, one may see with the naked eye some species like the “giant amoebae” Pelomyxa palustris and Chaos carolinense. Also, at the trailing edge of the cell there exists one disc-shaped retractor.

The movement of the amoebas takes place due to protoplasmic flow. Furthermore, a change continues to happen in their appearance. That is why some experts believe that amoebas do not retain the same shape again in their entire lifetime.

However, it is not a completely amorphous form as many people generally believe. Moreover, the determination of the approximate shape takes place by genus and species. On the basis of a rough division, there are of the following three types.

• It always gives, at a time, one wide temporary foot. Furthermore, it becomes slugged or oval as a whole. Also, normally the travel’s direction will be wider.
• Gives two feet that are temporary. Furthermore, this is the most amebic figure and its shape intensely changes.
• Those that give plenty of feet that are temporary and are of the thin rod-shaped type.

It is necessary that the differences mentioned above are species differences. This is because there are things that change type on the basis of environmental circumstances and conditions.

Furthermore, its classification takes place by the temporary feet and the structure of the nucleus. However, even within the same species, there are various differences depending on lineage, and there seem to be difficulties.

Morphology of Amoeba

The typical structure of amoebae is that of a eukaryotic cell. Furthermore, this structure is that of various organelles, nucleus, and cytoplasm. Moreover, the division of cytoplasm takes place into a central granular mass. Experts call this granular mass the endoplasm while the ectoplasm is the lighter outer layer.

The movement of this single-cell creature takes place by the extension of the cytoplasm outward. Thereby, the amoeba forms extensions that are similar to tentacles. These tentacle-like extensions are what experts call false feet or pseudopods that wrap the food.

How do Amoebas Feed?

The amoeba cell depends on heterotrophic nutrition. This is due to the fact that it feeds on all kinds of microscopic bacteria, animals, and plants.

The formation of pseudopods takes place as a response to chemical stimuli. Furthermore, this generation of chemical stimuli takes place by the microorganisms that are the amoeba food.

The pseudopods introduce the food into the digestive vacuole and cavity. Moreover, this can take place at any point on the surface of the cell. This is because this single-cell creature lacks a mouth that is localized.

The secretion of acid takes place in the vacuole. Moreover, this acid leads to the decomposition of this food into soluble chemical substances.

Also, this type of digestion is known as intracellular digestion. Most noteworthy, this process is what call experts call as phagocytosis. Here, the elimination of unused parts also happens.

FAQs For Amoeba

Question 1: Do amoebas communicate among themselves?

Answer 1: Due to the extremely small size of amoeba cell, they lack a nervous system. Furthermore, their communication takes place through the interaction of the cell membrane with the surrounding outside world.

In response to a stimulus that is alimentary, irritant, and noxious, intracellular communication takes place. Due to the intracellular communication, there is a production of a reaction of the whole cell. Consequently, the whole amoeba cell either moves towards the stimulus or away from it.

Question 2: How does amoeba reproduction take place?

Answer 2: The mature amoeba reproduction takes place by asexual multiplication. Here, reproduction happens by binary fission, where the duplication of the genetic material takes place by mitosis.

During this reproduction, cell lengthens and the division of the cytoplasm takes place into two daughter cells. Moreover, each of the daughter cells keeps a copy of the DNA. Furthermore, experts have not made any observation of the sexual reproduction among amoebas.

Question 3: Can amoebas live forever?

Answer 3: Amoebas are pretty much immortal. The only way amoebas can die is by way of starvation or by suffering damage from their environment. Furthermore, amoebas can repair themselves indefinitely.

Amoebas are big proof that there is no separation between biology and death. Most importantly, amoebas do not die due to age.