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Explain the feeding of paramecium. |
Paramecium and amoeba both live in fresh water pools or ponds and feed on microscopic organisms such as bacteria and single-celled algae. Amoeba is able to take in food at almost any point on its surface. Paramecium, on the other hand, can take in food only at the cytostome. The cilia in the oral groove create a current of water which wafts the food organisms up to the cytostome where they are ingested in a food vacuole. This food vacuole then follows a specific route through the cytoplasm. On its travels, enzymes are secreted into the vacuole and the food is digested. The digested substances are then absorbed into the cytoplasm. Any undigested matter is expelled through the anal pore. This contrasts with amoeba which can expel the undigested remains from almost any point. |