23Mar 2014 by Vincent Summers 1 Comment

The One Cell Blob Amoeba

Biology
[caption id="attachment_19430" align="alignright" width="440"] Giant Amoeba - Chaos carolinense - Dr.Tsukii Yuuji. Image edited.[/caption] The amoeba is probably everybody’s concept of the simplest life form this earth has to offer. Consisting of one cell, with no particular shape, this nearly shapeless creature has featured in science fiction B-movies, portraying a monster that encompasses its victim from all sides, sucking it into oblivion, absorbing the poor captive into its protoplasm. Here is an image of the so-called brain-eating version (Naegleria fowleri). The CDC explores the topic of this one-celled species to a great extent, providing much information on it. [caption id="attachment_7879" align="alignright" width="300"] The brain-eating amoeba. Image CDC[/caption] Anatomy The amoeba possesses a cell wall, which encompasses its protoplasm. Its shape is completely mobile, and it can surround prey, re-forming its…
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14Mar 2014 by Vincent Summers No Comments

The Differences Between Flagella and Cilia

Biology
[caption id="attachment_5797" align="alignright" width="440"] Is there a difference? After all they all look like little hairs to me.[/caption] Transportation by hairs called flagella and cilia? Yes, either works. What are they and how do they function? One-celled animals want to get around, too. One method used by the amoeba seems very innovative. Basically a liquid-filled blob, the amoeba directs some of its protoplasm to form pseudopodia, which is a 50-cent word meaning false feet. Other protozoa possess what is called a flagellum (some use two flagella). These are long hairs, sometimes longer than the body of the animal. It moves through the water using the flagellum like a whip. Yet others use a collection of shorter hairlike organelles called cilia. What is the difference between flagella and cilia? The differences…
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