Question

In Amoeba , the cell membrane helps in engulfing the food during the process called endocytosis.

Answer 1

Amoeba is a single-celled or unicellular organism. Fingerlike projections extending from the protoplasm helps in catching the food. Amoeba can be free-living in nature or can be parasitic in nature.

Complete answer: As Amoeba is a unicellular organism so, a single-cell will perform all the functions. Amoeba has an ability to alter its shape by extending its pseudopodia. Amoeba does not contain a cell wall due to this they are free to move anywhere. Amoeba engulfs their food with the help of these pseudopodia. Amoeba does not contain any mouth or a particular place in the cell where phagocytosis occurs. Pseudopodia engulf the prey or particle of scavenged material by encircling them.
Endocytosis is the process by which amoeba takes up the food particle. During the process of endocytosis, the outermost membrane of the amoeba folds inwardly and extends outwards to catch the food. By the process of endocytosis, the amoeba takes up its nutrition. Amoeba overtakes food particles with the help of pseudopodia which are the projections of cell membranes. A food vacuole is formed and surrounds the food particle. After that Amoeba secret digestive enzymes that break down the food particle and digest the food particle. This process of taking in the material of food by the projections or invaginations of the cell membrane to form a vacuole is called endocytosis.

Note: The food sources of amoebae may vary. Some Amoeba act as predatory and live by consuming bacteria and other protists. Some are detritivores and eat dead organic material. Some amoebae also feed by pinocytosis, imbibing dissolved nutrients through vesicles formed within the cell membrane.