Describe the process of nutrition in Amoeba
March 11, 2023 | by Sravani Pathakamuri | Posted in FAQ's
Amoeba is a single-celled organism that obtains its nutrition through a process called phagocytosis. This process involves engulfing food particles, such as bacteria or algae, with its cell membrane to form a food vacuole. Once inside the vacuole, the food is broken down into smaller molecules through the process of digestion.
The digestion process in amoeba occurs in several stages. First, the food vacuole fuses with lysosomes, which contain digestive enzymes. These enzymes break down the food into smaller molecules such as amino acids, fatty acids, and sugars. These molecules are then absorbed into the cytoplasm of the amoeba.
The amoeba obtains energy from the food molecules through the process of cellular respiration. During cellular respiration, the molecules are broken down further, releasing energy that is used by the amoeba for various metabolic processes.
Any waste products generated during digestion and cellular respiration are expelled from the amoeba through a process called exocytosis. The waste is packaged into a vesicle and transported to the cell membrane, where it is released outside the cell.
Overall, nutrition in amoeba involves the processes of phagocytosis, digestion, absorption, and cellular respiration, which allow the organism to obtain the energy and nutrients it needs to survive.