Question

Describe the process of respiration in Amoeba. State whether it is anaerobic respiration or aerobic respiration.

Answer 1

Hint: Amoeba is a unicellular eukaryotic organism belonging to amoeboid protozoan under Kingdom Protista. They live in aquatic habitats such as fresh and marine water, sometimes found in soil.

Complete answer:
The respiration in amoeba occurs by simple diffusion, the oxygen gas dissolved in water or surrounding environment is diffused into the cell through the cell membrane. This oxygen is used for respiratory metabolic purposes. Carbon dioxide gas produced gets removed by simple diffusion into the surrounding environment. Amoeba shows an aerobic type of respiration.

Additional Information: -Amoeba moves with the help of false feet or pseudopodia. These are cytoplasmic extensions giving out finger-like projections. Pseudopodia help in movement and capture of prey.
-The amoeba forms a simple structure, it can be divided into three parts, the cytoplasm, plasmalemma or plasma membrane, and the nucleus.
-The cytoplasm has two parts, the peripheral or outer part is known are ectoplasm and the central part is known as endoplasm.
-The plasma membrane consists of two layers.
-Reproduction in amoeba occurs by fission. It shows an asexual mode of reproduction.
-In unfavorable conditions, the amoeba withdraws its pseudopodial structures and secretes a tri-layered cyst around itself. This process is known as encystation. In the encysted condition amoeba divides multiple times by fission producing a large number of minute amoeba, which are known as pseudopodia spores, this exerts pressure on the cyst wall. The wall ruptures and these pseudopodiospores are releases that develop to form new amoeba. This process is termed as sporulation.

Note: Amoeba is a unicellular and eukaryotic organism. It should be noted that amoeba reproduces by sporulation only during unfavorable conditions. Pseudopodia are unique features of amoeba. Since the process of respiration in amoeba is simple diffusion it is a very spontaneous process. Amoeba secretes chemical substances which keeps them away from other amoebas and prevents cannibalism. The same chemical also keeps them away from other predators.