Question

A species of amoeba is called as proteus because it
A. Has abundance of proteins
B. Constantly changes its body shape
C. Does not change its body shape
D. Has protoplasm

Answer 1

Hint: An amoeba is a unicellular organism which arises from a single celled organism.
Amoeba consists of cytoplasm, nucleus and cell membrane.
Amoeba also possess pseudopodia which help them to move and alter their shape.
Amoeba reproduces by binary fission which is an asexual mode of reproduction.

Complete answer:
In order to solve this question we need to know more about the amoeba and its species
- As we know amoeba is a unicellular organism because it consists of only a single cell.
- Amoeba organism consists of cytoplasm, nucleus and cell membrane.
- Amoeba has no proper shape and size because amoeba lacks a cell wall.
- Pseudopodia helps in movement of the amoeba and it also helps in altering their shape.
- Amoeba reproduces by asexual reproduction method known as binary fission.
- In Binary fission nucleus division Occurs first followed by cytoplasm division.
- In binary fission, the parent cell disappears after giving rise to two identical daughter cells.
- Source of food of amoeba may vary because some amoebas are predators and eat living organisms whereas some are detrivores and eat dead and decayed organisms.
- The amoeba engulfs food and nutrients by the process of phagocytes.
- Proteus is those who change its shape.
- Species of amoeba are known as proteus because they lack cell walls and they contain pseudopodia which help them to alter their shape and cause movement, so that’s why species of amoeba are known as proteus.

So, the correct answer is option B. constantly changes its shape.

Note:
Asexual reproduction: It is type of reproduction in which fusion of gametes and no of chromosomes does not take place.
The offspring arises from the single cell organisms.
Asexual reproduction is mainly seen in amoeba, paramecium, yeast, spirogyra etc.
Asexual reproduction includes binary fission, budding, fragmentation, spore formation, vegetative propagation, and agamogenesis.