Question

The nutrition in amoeba can be defined as
(a) Heterotrophic nutrition
(b) Autotrophic nutrition
(c) Insectivores nutrition
(d) None of the above

Answer 1

Hint: Nutritional mode in amoeba is Holozoic and the mechanism by which amoeba gets food is called phagocytosis.

Complete answer: To answer this question, first, we need to know about nutrition. Nutrients are the substances that provide the energy and biomolecules required for the different body functions to be carried out. For proper functioning and growth all living organisms need nutrients. But they're showing differences in how they satisfy the demand. In order to satisfy their nutrient needs, some animals depend on simple inorganic compounds while others use complex compounds. The nutritional mode varies across organisms.
Now lets us find the solution from the given options-
All organisms cannot make their own food. Such organisms are dependent on others for their nutrition. Organisms that are unable to produce food by themselves and rely on other sources / organisms are called heterotrophs. This mode of nutrition is said as heterotrophic nutrition. Amoeba gets its nutrients in a heterotrophic manner. Amoeba feeds on plankton and diatoms. It forms arm-like structures known as pseudopodia. It extends its pseudopodia in that direction when it detects food in its surroundings, and moves towards it. It then envelops the food with its pseudopodia.
Additional information: In autotrophic nutrition, organisms, in the presence of light and chlorophyll, use simple inorganic matter such as water and carbon dioxide to synthesize food on their own.  The photosynthesis mechanism is used to turn light energy into foods like glucose. These organisms are called autotrophs. Amoeba does not get its nutrients in this manner.
In insectivorous animals, nutrition is derived from insects.
Thus, the right answer is option A i.e., Heterotrophic nutrition

Note: Heterotrophs are categorized into various groups depending on their mode of feeding. They are parasites, saprophytes, and holozoic. Holozoic is the mode of nutrition of amoeba where organisms eat solid food and consists of various stages-ingestion, digestion, absorption, assimilation, and ejection.