CONTRACTILE VACUOLE IN AMOEBA

The main function of contractile vacuole in amoeba is osmoregulation. Osmoregutation is the process by which an organism maintains the correct water and ion balance in its body. It accumulates excess water and when filled releases at the outer surface of the cell.

PROTEUS(GREEK GOD)

For Amoeba proteus, the term proteus is named after a Greek God Proteus who was capable of assuming any form He liked. Amoeba proteus contantly changes its shape so it is named as such.

BEHAVIOUR SHOWN BY AMOEBA

The amoeba does not has organs like brain or heart like us. Rather it has organelles. The main organelle is the nucleus.Although it does not has a brain it reacts to its outer environment. 

• THERMOTAXIS(response to heat) -------Amoeba moves away from heat(-ve response).
• PHOTO TAXIS(response to light)---------Amoeba moves away from light(-ve response).
• CHEMO TAXIS(response to chemicals)---Amoeba moves away from chemicals(-ve response).
• RHEOTAXIS(response to water and air current)-----(+ve response).
• GALVANOTAXIS(response to electric current)------(-ve response).
• GEOTAXIS(response to gravity)---------------------(+ve response).

MODES OF NUTRITION IN AMOEBA

AMOEBA

Who discovered  Amoeba proteus?

Roesel Von Rosenhof discovered Amoeba proteus in the year 1755.

Classification of amoeba:

Kingdom--------Protista

Subkingdom----Protozoa

Phylum----------Plasmodroma

Class--------------Sarcodina

Subclass----------Rhizopoda

Order ------------Amoebida

Family-----------Amoebidae

Genus------------Amoeba 

Why is amoeba called immortal?

Amoeba is immortal as it does not face natural death. One amoeba divides into two and the cell contents are equally distributed and nothing dies in this process.

                                                                        

Which species of amoeba is the largest?

Pelomyxa is the largest amoeba found mainly in the bottom of pond embedded in mud and detritus.It engulfs its food , mainly they are herbivorous and reproduces by the method of plasmotomy. Only small pseudopodia  erupt from its body and never become large. They are the most primitive eukaryotic organism found today.

What is mouth amoeba?

Entamoeba gingivalis is commonly called mouth amoeba.It lives in between teeth and is associated with mouth diseases like gingivitis and it is said to aggravate pyorrhoea. It forms many pseudopodia and moves actively. But it does not form cysts. So it is transmitted from one person to other by kissing, sharing of tooth brushes or while eating or drinking together. 

SOME IMPORTANT BRANCHES OF BIOLOGY

• Zoology is the study of animals.
• Botany is the study of plants.
• Morphology is the study of external forms and structures of plants and animals.
• Taxonomy is the study of classification of organisms.
• Anatomy is the study of internal structures of organisms.
• Histology is the study of tissues.
• Cytology is the study of cells.
• Biochemistry is the  study of chemical reactions in living organisms.
• Endocrinology is the study of endocrine glands and their secretions.
• Ecology is the study of relation between the living organism and its environment.
• Genetics is the study of heredity and variations.