Question

The irregular shape of amoeba is attributed by the presence of
A)Food vacuole
B)Slimy cell membrane
C)Pseudopodia
D)Contractile vacuole

Answer 1

Amoeba is an unicellular organism that does not come under any single taxonomic group but are found in many organisms such as protozoa, algae, fungi and animals and thus are of importance.

Complete answer:
Amoeba are of various shapes, the most common ones range from 2.3 to 3 micrometers in diameter whereas there are also giant amoebas that can be seen through naked eye. Amoeba do not consist of cell walls which allows them to move freely. They contain specialized structures called pseudopodia which are bulges of the cytoplasm, giving amoeba its irregular shape.

Amoeba can move and feed by means of these pseudopodia. Many free living amoeba have a hard shell covering made up of calcium, silica, chitin to give them protection. Amoeba also consists of a contractile vacuole that helps in regulating osmotic pressure as this vacuole expels out excess water from the cell. Amoeba takes up food mostly by means of phagocytosis, the pseudopodia extending around the food particle which then is taken inside the cell. Once inside the cell the food is stored in the food vacuole.

Hence, the correct answer is option (C)

Note: Amoeba are capable of causing various diseases in humans, few of which are- amoebic dysentery caused by Entamoeba histolytica, amoebic keratitis and encephalitis caused by Acanthamoeba, Naegleria fowleri also known as the brain eating amoeba is fatal to humans if introduced through the nose.