Amoeba Cell Structure and Function

The amoeba cell is any of the several tiny, one-celled protozoa. An amoeba lives in fresh-water, salt water and moist body parts of animals. They are made of cytoplasm. They may have one or more nuclei, but it depends on the species of the Amoeba. (http://www.scienceclarified.com, Paragraph 1)

The origin of amoeba comes from the Greek word amoibe that means “to change.” The cell travels mainly by constantly rearranging its body shape, by forming extensions that are often called pseudopods or false feet from which its body is able drift away. The false feet are sometimes productive in surrounding and capturing its food which consists mainly of different bacteria, any algae, and other protozoa from the nearby waters. (http://www.scienceclarified.com, Paragraph 2)

The amoeba is a type of protozoa. It is well-known as a representative of a unicellular organism. Protozoa are single-celled eukaryotes. These are prone to demonstrate a form of mobility and heterotrophy like animals, but are often put in the group of the kingdom Protista because they are more complex than bacteria but are not human, fungi or plants. When people use amoeba in the plural form it is spelled in either form of amoebas or amoebae. (http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org, Paragraph 1)

An orifice in the membrane of an amoeba cell permits the food particles, combined with bits of water, to go into the cell, which are then placed in round-shaped chambers that are known as food vacuoles. From there the food is then taken in by enzymes and later immersed in to the cell. The food vacuoles soon after are known to disappear. The liquid excess are then excreted through the membrane of the amoeba cell. There is at least one contractile vacuole that is always present in the body of the amoeba. This vacuole is able to regulate the water content of the cell. When the vacuole collects unneeded water it swells, and when it becomes full, it suddenly contracts and the excess water is expelled from the membrane of the amoeba. (http://www.scienceclarified.com, Paragraph 2)

The water that comes from the adjacent settings drifts in to the ectoplasm of the amoeba through a process that is known as osmosis, which is where a substance is permitted to pass through the membrane of a cell. However when there is an over amount of water that builds up in the cell, the additional water is then encased in a complex structure that is identified as a contractile vacuole and squeezed back out from the cell membrane. This membrane permits the passage of oxygen in to the cell and carbon dioxide to exist out. (http://www.scienceclarified.com, Paragraph 3)

An amoeba usually is made of a particular bubble cell that is bordered by a porous cell membrane. The amoeba is known to breathe by using this membrane. It takes oxygen gas from the water and passes it on to the amoeba through its cell membrane and then the carbon dioxide gas diffuses out through the membrane. A large, disk-shaped nucleus within the amoeba is in charge of the growth and reproduction of the amoeba. If you want to view an amoeba, you would need a microscope to see amoebas – the largest are only about 1 mm across. (http://www.enchantedlearning.com, Paragraph 1)

Amoeba is often used to refer to both these genus and its intimate relations that are currently in the group known as the “Amoebozoa,” as well as to refer to all the unicellular organisms that are able to move by pseudopods. The pseudopods, also known as false feet, are known as a result from the extension of cytoplasm external. Many cells that have the ability to move or be able to catch their food by these provisional projections are established as amoeboid, and some cells even in many cellular organisms are often recognized as amoeboid, a form of this would be human white blood cells. (http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org, Paragraph 2)

The amoeba is one of nature’s uncomplicated organisms. It is identified to posses many similar features with nature’s most advanced being. They are classified as Homo sapiens, but these are the similar features that they posses DNA, cellular structure, and the phagocytosis activity of the white blood cells, which is recognized to engulf and destroy pathogens. (http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org, Paragraph 3)

Because of their simplistic nature, amoebas are often talked about in the discussions of evolution. As those that are advocating the question of design. Such as the question of how organisms as simple as amoebas are able to evolve simply by accident or by chance to yield to the great complexity seen in way of life today. The early naturalists often referred to what is now known as amoeba as the Proteus animalcule, because of a Greek god who could change his silhouette which the amoeba are able to accomplish. The name of amibe was provided to it by Bery St. Vincent. (http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org, Paragraph 4)

When an amoeba reaches its largest size, the exterior area of the membrane is not able to absorb the quantity of materials that are necessary to be able to support a cell of its volume anymore. At this point in time, the amoeba reproduces asexually by the process of mitosis. The nucleus divides in half and each half transfers to a contrary end of the cell. The now mature amoeba then basically pinches into two original daughter cells. (Keith Graham & Gregory Parker, p. 464, Paragraph 2) The amoeba acquires about a total of twenty minutes to finish the dividing of the cell. If there are existing ideal conditions, the amoeba segregates every three days. If in any way, the conditions become hostile for lively existing, the amoeba may develop a cyst by producing a thick wall about itself. (Keith Graham & Gregory Parker, p. 464, Paragraph 2)

Even though it possesses no eyespots, the amoeba is known to travel away from bright lights, move toward food substances, and back away from harmful chemicals. Precisely how the amoeba is able to differentiate between these things it is not yet known. Amoebas can be attained by gathering the slime from the bottom of a pond or from the leaves of aquatic plants. (Keith Graham & Gregory Parker, p. 464, Paragraph 3)

While most amoebas live in water, some are found in the bodies of animals and humans. There is one harmful species that causes a sickness, which is often identified as amoebic dysentery. This is commonly found in areas of the world where there is many unsanitary conditions. The dysentery amoebas often feed on the wall that lines the human intestine and is also able to ingest red blood cells that causes bleeding ulcers. (Keith Graham & Gregory Parker, p. 464, paragraph 4)

Amoebas are considered to have asymmetry symmetry. It displays great variation of form. Amoebas are known to constantly change shape most of the time. The word asymmetry literally means without shape. Those that are asymmetry have a beauty that is like the beauty of clouds that are always changing forms.

The protozoa that are amoebas are interesting creatures. There are many types, yet little to none research. They normally inhabit water particularly fresh water. It is dangerous for humans to have amoeba because it can cause harmful diseases. The structure of the amoeba is nonexistent for there is no shape to it but it is pretty to view the organelles of the amoebas. They don’t have many organelles. But the ones that they have are their food vacuoles, the contractile vacuoles, cell membrane and pseudopods. (Keith Graham & Gregory Parker, p 463, figure 21.34) Amoeba is a great cell to study because they are not the typical cell.

Sources for cell project:

http://www.scienceclarified.com

http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org

http://www.enchantedlearning.com