Amoeba cells grow by acquiring energy through feeding or photosynthesis.
Amoeba Growth Explained
Amoebas are single-celled organisms that exhibit growth by increasing in size. This growth is fueled by energy obtained through two primary methods:
- Absorbing food: Amoebas use pseudopods (false feet) to engulf small particles of food, such as algae, bacteria, and dead organic matter.
- Photosynthesis: Some amoebas can produce their own food from sunlight, similar to plants.
The Feeding Process:
Amoebas use their pseudopods to surround and engulf food particles in a process called phagocytosis. Here is a breakdown:
- Extending Pseudopods: The amoeba extends its pseudopods towards a food source.
- Engulfing Food: The pseudopods surround the food particle, eventually enclosing it within a food vacuole.
- Digestion: Enzymes are secreted into the food vacuole to break down the food into smaller molecules.
- Absorption: The smaller molecules are absorbed into the cytoplasm of the amoeba, providing it with energy and nutrients for growth.
- Waste Removal: Undigested waste products are eliminated from the cell through exocytosis.
Growth Through Energy Acquisition
The energy acquired from food or photosynthesis is then utilized to synthesize new cellular components, such as proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates. This leads to an increase in the overall size of the amoeba.
