Both amoeba and paramecium show heterotrophic nutrition. What is the difference between the way they obtain their food?
The correct answer and explanation is:
Amoeba and Paramecium are both unicellular organisms that exhibit heterotrophic nutrition, meaning they rely on other organisms for food. However, their methods of obtaining food differ due to their distinct structures and modes of feeding.
Amoeba: Amoebas feed through a process called phagocytosis. In this process, the amoeba extends its cytoplasm to surround and engulf food particles, such as bacteria or smaller protozoa. The food is then enclosed within a food vacuole, where enzymes are secreted to break it down. The nutrients from the digested food are absorbed into the cytoplasm, and any undigested material is expelled through the cell membrane. Amoeba does not have a defined feeding structure but relies on the fluidity of its cell membrane to form pseudopodia (false feet) that help capture the food.
Paramecium: Paramecia, on the other hand, possess a more specialized structure for feeding. They have tiny hair-like projections called cilia covering their body surface. These cilia create water currents that help draw food particles such as bacteria into a groove-like structure on their surface called the oral groove. The food particles are then funneled into a specialized cavity called the food vacuole. Once inside, the food is digested by enzymes. Paramecia also have a contractile vacuole for excreting excess water from the cell, but this is unrelated to the digestion of food. Unlike the amoeba, the paramecium has a clear, organized mechanism to gather and transport food using the cilia.
In summary, while both amoeba and paramecium engage in heterotrophic nutrition, amoeba relies on its ability to engulf food through pseudopodia, whereas paramecium uses cilia to transport food particles into its oral groove for ingestion.