Amoeba on microscope slide

Amoeba on microscope slide, slinks slowly across.

Amoeba (sometimes amœba or ameba, plural amoebae) is a genus of Protozoa. The cell's organelles and cytoplasm are enclosed by a cell membrane, obtaining its food through phagocytosis. Amoebae have a single large tubular pseudopod at the anterior end, and several secondary ones branching to the sides. The most famous species, Amoeba proteus, averages about 220-740 μm in length while moving, making it a giant among amoeboids. A few amoeboids belonging to different genera can grow larger, however, such as Gromia, Pelomyxa, and Chaos.

Amoebae's most recognizable features include one or more nuclei and a simple contractile vacuole to maintain osmotic equilibrium. Food enveloped by the amoeba is stored and digested in vacuoles. Amoebae, like other single-celled eukaryotic organisms, reproduce asexually via mitosis and cytokinesis, not to be confused with binary fission, which is how prokaryotes (bacteria) reproduce. In cases where the amoeba are forcibly divided, the portion that retains the nucleus will survive and form a new cell and cytoplasm, while the other portion dies. Amoebae also have no definite shape.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• amoeba
• amoeba under microscope
• microscopic life
• microscopy single celled
• bright field
• microscope
• single cell
• microbe
• organelles

[TinyScience]

lol, I think I remember that episode :)

[SharpeAlex10]

Is this at normal time rate or did you speed it up?

[trainbrain13]

@pedestrianvulgaritee When and where do you see that? btw, Tinysci, what mag. lvl is this?

[cd4600]

Hi, is this visualized using a special method, like phase contrast, or is it just as you would see it under a normal microscope? Thanks a lot!

[pedestrianvulgaritee]

Hardcore! I can see a see a tiny USS Enterprise inside.